VOX April 2015

ISSUE 26 / APRIL - JUNE 2015

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MISSION IN CONTEMPORARY IRELAND

“What will the Gospel look like if it explodes and spreads out within our communities?”

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VOX APRIL - JUNE 2015

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EDITORIAL

Finding our voice few weeks ago, I lost my voice. It was at the worst possible moment: the day we discovered (contrary to the carelessly scribbled note in my diary) that my hubby and I were due to speak at not one, but two church services!

I confess, it was rather disconcerting to struggle through a heartfelt exhortation in a voice that sounded like a cross between a bashful banshee and a breathless mafia boss! Even more amazing was the discovery that, somehow, the message was received, despite my limitations.

This experience came hard on the heels of a discussion between senior Irish church leaders about whether the Church has lost her voice (see page 9).

On a macro scale, it is easy to think that we have been silenced. No longer revered, the voice of Christians in Ireland is often marginalised and mocked, especially when it comes to issues of morality. Yet I’m inclined to think this is a good thing.

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IT IS EASY TO THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN SILENCED. Followers of the carpenter of Nazareth are not suited to the eloquent proclamations of power and privilege, nor to the polished patter of salesmen. Elijah encountered his Creator in a still, small voice. And while Jesus spoke with tremendous authority, it was on the outskirts and in the margins that His voice was heard. The corridors of power echoed instead with condemnation of His message.

In this issue of VOX, we explore the subject of “evangelism” (sharing the good news about Jesus with others who don’t yet know Him). Even mentioning the word is enough to make many cringe with guilt or embarrassment (take a look at the results of our survey on evangelism on page 16).

Yet, all across this island, thousands still talk about Jesus every day. Perhaps in a whisper, a hesitant half-phrase, a stammered story, or a nervous question… Their voices may be small and seemingly insignificant, but they are not silent. And so often in VOX, we’ve been able to share the tremendous impact these voices are making!

In fact, almost two-thirds of you told us it was through the influence of a friend or family member that you found your faith in Jesus! Perhaps it is time for us to value the authentic, broken voice of the Church.

After all, it is in our weakness, not our strength, that God’s power is made perfect!

THE VOX TEAM NEEDS YOU! The volunteer team that brings you VOX is expanding!

In order to grow the magazine's reach, we are urgently seeking two new team members.

The Operations Coordinator manages the distribution of VOX up and down this island.

The Marketing Coordinator aims to raise the magazine's profile, promote VOX in new areas and sell print and online advertising.

Both of these roles are voluntary and expenses are covered. Each would require ca. eight hours per week, whether home-based or in our Dublin office.

Find out more about these roles at www.vox.ie. If you are interested, please contact Jonny at jonny@vox.ie or 01 443 4789.

Go on, we'd love to hear from you!

Ruth Garvey-Williams Editor (editor@vox.ie)

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THE EVIDENCE NO LONGER DEMANDS A VERDICT

APRIL - JUNE 2015, ISSUE 26 ISSN: 2009-2253 P UBLISHE R The VOX Team EDI TOR Ruth Garvey-Williams editor@vox.ie OP ERATION S , A DV E RT I S I N G & LAY O U T Jonny Lindsay jonny@vox.ie P ROJEC T A DV I S OR Tom Slattery SUBSC RIP T I ON S Ireland & UK: Min. €7 for four issues Overseas: Min. €15 for four issues All cheques should be made payable to 'VOX Magazine'.

V OX Mag a z ine Ulysses House 22 - 24 Foley Street Dublin 1 Tel: 01 443 4789 | info@vox.ie | www.vox.ie DISC LA IME R

The views expressed in letters and articles are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the VOX Team or our partners. The acceptance of advertising does not indicate endorsement.

P RINT Castle Print, Galway VOX magazine is a quarterly publication, brought to you by a passionate team of volunteers.

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BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

PASSIONATE ABOUT THE GOSPEL

CONTENTS 14 13 16 18 20 23 24 26 28 30 36 39 34 08 10 12 21

COVER STORY Mission in contemporary Ireland - “What will the Gospel look like if it explodes and spreads out within our communities?”

FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS Finding Faith Tour 2015 - do you want us to visit you?

VOX Reader Survey: What you said about evangelism.

The evidence no longer demands a verdict - “I had only turned my back for a moment and the world had changed.”

Ten ideas for reaching your community.

Connecting faith with real life - stories from around Ireland.

Jennifer’s Story - “Everyone is of unique and sacred value, whether they have a disability or not!”

Pray, Invite, Bring - What happened when we challenged our people to pray for their neighbours and invite them to church?

Prayer Evangelism - seeing spiritual climate change.

Launching Corónú Íosa - reaching all of Ireland with the good news of Jesus.

Passionate about the Gospel - OM Ireland finds creative ways to communicate good news.

Camping for Life - Christian camp provides fresh start for teenage boys.

VOX VIEWS Blessed are the peacemakers - “We are called to a ministry of reconciliation.”

REGULAR FEATURES VOX: Shorts VOX: World News Your VOX: Letters to the editor Feint Saint with Annmarie Miles

22 41 44 46

Soapboxer with Dr. Ken Baker Reviews Event Listing VOX: PS with Seán Mullan

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without the strings

An unconditional love for His World 1 - 7 August 2015 University of Ulster Coleraine Northern Ireland evening celebrations Ben Kwashi & Harold Miller

NEWHORIZON.ORG.UK

bible readings Iain Provan APRIL - JUNE 2015 VOX

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VOX SHORTS

Poverty and inequality affecting the most vulnerable Austerity policies in the EU have contributed to intense economic suffering, particularly for young people and other vulnerable social groups, according to a new report by Social Justice Ireland. One in every four EU citizens is at risk of poverty and social exclusion. These numbers were highlighted in the new study entitled ‘Poverty and Inequalities on the Rise.’

The report found that 16.1% of young adults (one in six) in Ireland were not in employment, education, or training, compared to an EU average of 13%.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of unemployed people in Ireland were “long-term unemployed” in 2013. While this number has fallen in recent months, the significant impact of long-term unemployment cannot be ignored.

The report confirms the effects of unemployment, underemployment, and low wages on the most vulnerable in society, including children. In Ireland, child poverty affects one in every six children (18%), a level that is “totally unacceptable in a modern democratic society” according to Social Justice Ireland.

The clock is ticking on climate change Ireland’s leading climate scientist has warned of the urgent need for action, not rhetoric, to tackle climate change. Speaking at an inter-church climate justice event held in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Professor John Sweeney of NUI Maynooth said, “We have to climate-change-proof society for the years ahead. It won’t cost the earth to do it; it will cost the earth not to do it.”

The event, which drew a crowd of more than 80 people from different churches, was co-hosted by Eco-Congregation Ireland and Raphoe Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Group.

Prof. Sweeney said that many parts of the developing world were suffering from the consequences of climate change even though they had contributed least to carbon emissions. When it comes to climate justice, Ireland is one of the worst

offenders. Per head of population, we produce more greenhouse gases than the 400 million poorest people on earth put together, Prof. Sweeney added.

Describing as “crucial” the COP21 climate talks that will take place in Paris in December, Prof.

Sweeney said he is hoping for an inclusive global agreement at that event: “A global agreement to halt the rise of greenhouse gas emissions sometime in the next decade is essential to avoid dangerous climate change,” he said.

Praising the efforts of the two church groups who organised the Donegal event, Prof. Sweeney said: “I was particularly pleased to learn of the ‘on the ground’ efforts being made by so many members of the two organisations. They are perhaps the pioneers of this century although they may not be appreciated for some time by the general public.”

Why can’t we see black and blue?

An internet sensation was transformed into a thought-provoking social media campaign thanks to the Salvation Army in South Africa. “The dress” went viral when it appeared that some could see it in gold and white while others saw black and blue. In an inspired twist, the Salvation Army used an image of a bruised woman wearing a gold and white version of the dress to

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raise awareness of domestic violence. The poster asked, “Why is it so hard to see black and blue?” Underneath it reads, “The only illusion is if you think it was her choice. One in six women are victims of abuse. Stop abuse against women.”

VOX MAGAZINE

Have we lost our voice?

The first Q Commons Dublin took place in Christ Church Cathedral in February, one of more than 60 gatherings around the world to consider how to advance “good” in our communities.

Via video link, New York Times best selling author Malcolm Gladwell posed the question, “What does it mean to be a leader in a just society?” Pointing to the way Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, Gladwell said, “True leadership begins not with leaders imposing their will, but with the expression of legitimacy. The core notion of legitimacy is that the way you carry out your ideas is as important as the ideas themselves.”

In response, a panel of faith leaders from around Dublin considered whether we have lost our influence in society. Dean Dermot Dunne was emphatic: “We have lost our voice, and we only have ourselves to blame. There is a huge club mentality about church. When church becomes an end in itself, it will fail. The church must be a living vehicle for the Gospel.”

With so many voices clamouring for attention, “…our voice will only be heard if it is accompanied by legitimacy and integrity,” added the Very Rev. Kieran McDermott. “Yet the message of Christ risen is still fresh and still valid.”

Pastor Nick Park from the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland reflected, “I think we have lost the “privileged” voice that we had. Religion handles power badly. In order to gain an authentic voice, we must lose our privilege. If the church keeps trying to fight culture wars, we will end up being irreparably damaged. If the church can rediscover a path of servanthood and humility, there is hope.”

Responses to the Marriage Referendum A cross-denominational group of church leaders has produced 10,000 flyers saying why they will vote “No” to same-sex marriage and encouraging others to do the same. Fifty leaders including priests, COI, Methodist and Presbyterian ministers, Pentecostal pastors, African pastors, and a Messianic Jewish pastor signed the pamphlet. Signatories include Church of Ireland Bishop Ferran Glenfield and Catholic Bishop Kevin Doran. Flyers are available on a donation basis. To obtain a copy of the flyer, contact anevangelicalresponse@gmail.com.

The Evangelical Alliance of Ireland has also produced a statement on the referendum, which advises a “No” vote while recognising that Christians in Ireland hold a variety of opinions on same-sex marriage. See the statement at www.evangelical.ie.

Stories of belief In March, ACET Ireland, in partnership with the Corrymeela Community and the Trinity College Dublin Chaplaincy, hosted their first Stories of Belief event. The purpose of the day was to gather together church leaders and LGBT Christians (including leaders).

"The agenda was not so much to discuss theology, ethics, or the upcoming referendum as it was to 'do' theology through the practice of listening well to one another", said Richard Carson, CEO of ACET Ireland. "The Irish LGBT Christians present shared their profound and humbling experiences of coming to Christ, discipleship, courage, exclusion, church community, and much more.

"Through avoiding the tyranny of speaking in abstractions about LGBT people rather than with them and by understanding the role of power and privilege in the room, the participants were encouraged to apply this learning into their local settings."

For more details on this project, which is supported by the Community Foundation for Ireland, please contact Richard Carson at richard.c@acet.ie.

Jesus, as Gaeilge!

Agapé and Scripture Union have launched a new Irish language DVD resource for primary schools.

"Scéal Íosa do Dhaoine Óga" was distributed to Irishmedium primary schools across Ireland. It is the Irish language version of The Story of Jesus for Children (www.jesusforchildren.org).

"Scéal Íosa do Dhaoine Óga" is adapted from Agapé’s 1979 film Jesus. In this adaptation, we see Jesus through the eyes of a group of children who try to find out who he is. Along with the DVD, "Scéal Íosa do Dhaoine Óga" contains a Teachers’ Resource CD ROM to assist the viewing and discussion of the film.

Feedback on the resource has been positive. “A very fine production. It will be a wonderful resource for schools. There is huge need for more work on the life of Jesus for young people...” commented one Diocesan Education Advisor.

"Scéal Íosa do Dhaoine Óga" can be ordered from Scripture Union Ireland for €20.00 (www.scriptureunion.ie).

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WORLD NEWS

TWO ROWS BY THE SEA

BUILDING PEACE IN SOUTH SUDAN

How can the world’s youngest country unravel so quickly? That was the question many asked as South Sudan descended into violence and civil war following its independence. Dinka turned against Neur and vice versa, as deep-seated tribal hatred and old wounds rose to the surface in bloody battles that spanned the country.

Since that time, African Enterprise has been in Juba facilitating peace and reconciliation between community leaders and training local leaders on living peaceably in spite of tribal differences. With over 50 years of experience in evangelism and peace building, African Enterprise believes passionately in the power of godly leadership in transforming nations.

Immanuel, an AE Peace and Reconciliation student, has begun an inter-tribal soccer team, one of the first of its kind in Juba, and has put his newfound skills to good use.

“I love my country; I love South Sudan,” Immanuel said. “What has Two rows of men walked the shore happened here has broken my heart. When and sea, WHICHI heard ROW about the peaceof the reconciliation training by African Enterprise, I was so excited; I couldn’t On a day when the world’s tears PLEASES GOD? would run free, wait to attend. The training gave us better understanding about theOne root of a row of assassins, who thought notAE be afraid of those whochallenged the violence and how to change it, andDothe facilitators usthey to did right, the body The other of innocents, true sons be agents of peace in our communities,kill resisting tribal divides. of the light, but cannot kill the soul. holding knives in hands held “Starting this team was very challenging firstof the because many ofOne the Rather, beat afraid One high, can destroy both soul and young people refused to associate withwho their teammates from different The other with hands empty, body in hell. backgrounds. I nearly gave up, but thanks to the AE facilitators anddefenseless other and tied, «Whoever acknowledges me One row of slits to conceal glaringbefore men, dead eyes, trainees, I was encouraged to keep going. I am constantly reminding my I will also acknowledge him The other with living eyes raised players to pursue peace using what I learned through the training.

They to the skies, before my Father in heaven. are all beginning to understand the importance of working together, One row stood steady, pall-bearers But whoever disowns me of death, before men, regardless of their differences!

The other knelt ready, welcoming I will disown him before my heaven’s breath, “We still have difficult moments, like when there is a disagreement Father in heaven.

One row spewed wretched, 28,32,33) but God is always during a match. Tribal issues often rise(Matthew to the10: surface, contemptible threats, The other spread God-given peace faithful. We have begun to build common understanding among the and rest. players and make the young people aware that their prejudices andA Question... negative tribe and ethnic statements cause division and ultimately Who fears the other?

The row in orange, watching bloodshed. I believe that tribal differences are our default setting here in paradise open?

South Sudan. We have to learn to change our mindset about these things. ” black, with minds Or the row in African Enterprise is in the process of building a peace and evil and broken? reconciliation school in Juba. It will offer local students a chance to study theology and different trades as well as running peace and reconciliation training throughout the year for community leaders.

For more info on African Enterprise and its work across the continent of Africa, visit www.africanenterprise.org.

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Egypt’s Bible Society is distributing 1.65 million Scripture leaflets following the shocking murder of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by Islamic State militants in February. Created the day after the video of the killing was released, the leaflet, entitled “Two rows by the sea,” gives comfort to a nation in mourning and was quickly distributed in churches across the country.

It combines a poem about the killings with five Bible passages about suffering.

“We wanted to provide something that would comfort the grieving,” explained Ramez Atallah, General Director of the Bible Society of Egypt.

“People are in despair about what happened. They’re feeling lost and have so many questions about why those young men were killed. And while there are no easy answers, the Bible reminds us that there will be times of trial but that God’s love for us is everlasting.

The leaflet is reaching people from all walks of life: we have heard many cases of Christians receiving it through Muslim friends and neighbours who got it first!”

Mr. Atallah says that the killing of the young men has united Christians and Muslims in their troubled country. “Christians have responded by sorrowfully calling out to God, and Muslims have shown love and care towards them.”

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APRIL - JUNE 2015 VOX - The specialist for the Christian and charity community.

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YOUR VOX

Letters to the editor

Star Letter

of VOX we In each issue all of a €25 One4 ize pr a d ar aw r. tte le ite ur r favo voucher for ou u!

It could be yo

So glad you are talking about evangelism I wanted to write that I’m so happy your magazine is covering the topic [evangelism]. So much pressure comes upon Christians when they think they have to approach strangers 24-7 and convince them to convert or burn in hell. The devil preys on our sense of duty and nearly paralyses us with guilt for not doing what we think we should.

However, evangelism can be simple, organic, and most effective when we simply live as Jesus did, being proactive in loving, smiling, blessing, and letting those in our realm of influence know we care. True, there are some evangelists, some teachers, some pastors, some prophets who will speak to strangers specifically (Ephesians 4:11),

but until God calls us into one of those ministries, we can settle into our own realm of influence and pray specifically over those we know best.

Who better to proclaim the Gospel than us to our own families, neighbours, and sports clubs?

Some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had have stemmed from saying, “I’m praying over your son’s upcoming surgery,” or “How about a lift to your doctor’s appointment?” Be REAL. Everybody loves REAL. ERIN HARMER TRAMORE, CO. WATERFORD

MORE PLEASE!

Wow - a real painting on the VOX cover!

(VOX, Jan - Mar 2015) Fergus Ryan’s interesting, long-form, reflective piece surely is worthy of Sunday Miscellany. My next favourite article was Art and Community by Andrew Garvey-Williams, encouraging us to engage with art and the local community. Spot on!

The “wrestling with faith” piece, concerning the work and thought of film director Phil Harrison, gave much food for thought, to say nothing of upcoming and already established artists giving us their interesting perspectives.

Thank you also for giving space to the challenging spoken-word performance artist Shay Phelan.

Can we also have more readers’ reviews of books, recently read? The multiple short were much more interesting than the “just published” variety of the past. Perhaps a mix of both would be good?

Just because VOX is free, it doesn't mean you can't subscribe.

For just €7 per year, it will land on your doorstep each quarter. Just like that. (€7 only covers P&P so, if you want to add a few bob, we won't stop you. Promise.)

Subscribe online at www.vox.ie, call 01 443 4789 or pop a cheque in the post.

LOUIS HEMMINGS BLACKROCK, CO. DUBLIN

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SEND YOUR LETTERS TO EDITOR@VOX.IE OR YOUR VOX, ULYSSES HOUSE, 22-24 FOLEY STREET, DUBLIN 1

VOX APRIL - JUNE 2015

VOX MAGAZINE

FINDING FAITH TOUR 2015

TUESDAY 19 TO MONDAY 25 MAY, 2015 Back by popular demand! This May, editor Ruth Garvey-Williams will set out on another tour of the island, hunting down stories of Faith, Life, and Reality. And this time, artist hubby Andrew will be coming too (to share the driving and help take wonderful photographs and videos along the way).

Over the last two years, Ruth has travelled hundreds of kilometres and interviewed dozens of people in counties all over Ireland and Northern Ireland. We know so many of you have been inspired and encouraged by the stories, and you’ve told us you want more…

We want to know what God is doing in YOUR part of Ireland and to hear stories of faith from ordinary people. We want to know about answered prayer as well as the reality of God’s faithfulness in the face of suffering or difficulties. We’d love to visit churches and Christian ministries that are transforming their communities in practical and innovative ways. We want to discover what impact faith is having in every walk of life and every sphere of influence.

This year, we will go where we are invited and want to plan the trip with your help. The schedule is still “up for grabs”. So please, please get in touch. Ruth and Andrew will need places to stay and stopping points (a.k.a. coffee!!) along the way.

Once we receive your invitation, we’ll create a route.

It is helpful when one person from a particular area is able to facilitate conversation by playing host to Christians from a number of different churches. It makes our job easier, but it can also prove to be a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and encouragement!

We’re especially keen to go where we have not gone before and, as always, we love to represent a broad cross-section of Christians in Ireland, celebrating our unity in diversity!

You’ll be able to follow the journey each day and interact with what is happening through our blog updates with photos and videos on our social media pages (Facebook/VOX magazine and Twitter @vox_ie). And, of course, the July issue of VOX magazine will be packed full of stories - the perfect summer reading!

Contact us today (editor@vox.ie or phone 087 795 5401).

n ited o th vis tours u R s on th ocati g Fai The l us Findin o previ APRIL - JUNE 2015 VOX

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FAITH

Mission in

CONTEMPORARY IRELAND “WHAT WILL THE GOSPEL LOOK LIKE IF IT EXPLODES AND SPREADS OUT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY?”

BY PHIL KINGSLEY

oo often in the life of the Church, mission has become an optional extra. We think we are only here to worship, teach, and care. We struggle with consumerism - as long as our own spiritual needs are met, we are not passionate about those who haven’t heard about Jesus. Mission is something we do - through a children’s club or a programme.

Yet, it is not our mission; it is God’s mission. And God’s mission is not an optional extra. It is the reason we are here.

God doesn’t bungee us all up to heaven as soon as we come to faith. He has left us here on purpose because He wants to bring hope and “shalom” into the lives of our neighbours.

A lot of people are in survival mode.

They think, “If I can hold on to my faith and pay my bills and keep my family together, what more could God expect?” And yet God

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called His people and said, “Through you, all the nations of the world will be blessed…”

We have a life that is beyond survival. We are people with a purpose.

yeast, starting off small but spreading and being transformational.

There is a whole dimension of life that we still haven’t experienced in modern Ireland, even though we have a veneer CONTEMPORARY IRELAND of religion. Jesus has redeemed us for a Here in Ireland, we are moving from a new way of life. This is a way of “shalom” “conservative” culture to one that has a hard bringing everything into a right relationship time figuring out what is right and wrong. with God and with man.

Too often, people perceive that Christians The church needs to engage in the lives are trying to call of people but also people back to a to articulate the traditional set of Gospel, not by rules. When we talk GOD’S MISSION IS NOT AN OPTIONAL EXTRA. stepping back on about the Bible, the pedestal and they think we want IT IS THE REASON WE ARE HERE. lecturing people to turn the clock about what they back to a way that ought to do, but was oppressive, unjust and unfair. by acknowledging that we face complex But we are meant to be good-news problems without easy answers. We need people, calling our friends and neighbours to share that as we’ve come to trust in Jesus into the life of the Gospel. We need to be and to follow Him, it changes the way we see

VOX MAGAZINE

WE MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER EVERY QUESTION, BUT THAT IS NOT THE SAME AS WINNING PEOPLE’S HEARTS.

problems and the way we see each other, and it gives us a basis for grace, forgiveness and seeking justice.

People don’t have solutions to health issues, to ISIS, to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and so on. Somehow the church needs to address these things and articulate a “third way” that is neither tradition nor secularism.

There is a growing percentage of “nones” (people who identify with no religion). If we are waiting for them to come to church, they are not coming! Many are not anti-church but they see it as kind of irrelevant. With the shrinking influence of the Gospel, they won’t to come to us. Jesus became the model of leaving comfort, power and safety, and stepping into the world.

CHANGING FOCUS

A lot of what we are doing is still locked into the “come” model - you reach out, grab

people and pull them back into the Christian tribe.

When we do this kind of centralised mission, the person who comes in is the one who has to adapt. Yet God has called us to be the missionaries - the ones who adapt to the culture and contextualise the message.

Today, we need a mind shift from a “come” mentality (come to church, come to our Bible study...) to a “go” church. Churches are breaking out of their buildings.

They are starting to redefine their expression of church. They are asking, “What will the Gospel look like if it explodes and spreads out within

our community?”

What are the issues and the broken things in our community? What do we have in our hands to address them? How do we release people to new expressions of church beyond the cultural reach of the existing church?

More and more Irish Christians are not content simply to sit in the church. They are realising that the way we’ve gone about living as the church and the way we’ve approached mission is not adequate for the task.

GOOD-NEWS PEOPLE

So what does it mean to be people who are not just talking about good news but also modelling it and demonstrating it?

The words on the box have to match what is on the inside, and if they don’t, there is a lack of credibility. We talk about kingdom transformation, about hope, love, and grace,

and yet often our experience of church is very different.

Most Christians rarely or never have a conversation with someone about the Gospel. They might say, “I’m praying for you” or talk about church but most Christians don’t know what to say or who to say it to.

Those of us who are pastors and teachers have failed to envision and equip our people for mission. We need to coach and mentor people. It is the difference between having someone lecturing about your golf game or someone out with you on the green telling you to drop your shoulder or bend your arm.

Part of that is because a lot of pastors don’t know how to articulate the Gospel in a relational way. We are in a period of re-learning. I realise that the vast majority of people around me have not heard that message in a clear and compelling way, backed up by the authentic life of Jesus followers. Sharing good news is not pushy.

We are not trying to “flog” this stuff. We are looking for places where God is at work.

We may be able to answer every question, but that is not the same as winning people’s hearts. My job is not to wrestle someone to the ground logically but to point them to Jesus.

Am I interceding for my neighbours?

Am I living my life to bless them? Do I want the best for them? Am I saying “I don’t have all the answers” but I do know that as I’ve come to trust and believe in Jesus, I’m beginning to find sense, meaning, and purpose in my life?

Ultimately, evangelism is the work of the Holy Spirit. God’s heart for Ireland is way bigger than mine. We are the advocates.

He is the one who convicts, convinces, and illuminates.

Phil Kingsley is teacher of mission in contemporary Ireland at the Irish Bible Institute. He’s been involved in church planting, evangelism, and discipleship in Ireland for 33 years.

Currently, he is working with other leaders to explore what would it take to see the city of Dublin impacted with the Gospel.

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WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT EVANGELISM RESULTS FROM THE VOX READER SURVEY EVANGELISM IS: … declaring the change that occurred in my life through Jesus and pointing others to Jesus as the means of reconciliation with God. …hard, scary and really advantageous for your own faith! … as necessary for the church as food is to the body. … a lifestyle, not an event. It involves meeting people where they are and addressing their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. … how we live out our lives as practicing Christians. Not someone Bible-bashing you. … as much about action as words. We need new ways of expressing the good news so that it is relevant to the people of the day. We need to ‘get out there’ and go to where people are. … sharing the whole Gospel (the good news that God is reconciling all of creation to Himself), not just a “how to get to heaven” message.

We asked you for your views on evangelism, and we were overwhelmed by the response from people all over the island of Ireland and beyond.

WHAT HINDERS PEOPLE FROM COMING TO FAITH? Some people try to push Christianity down people’s throats, and consequently people just don’t want to know.

Christians in the West have now been intimidated by the notion of political correctness, to the extent that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been watered down.

The concept of a loving God is hard to convey in the face of appalling disease, suffering, and inequality.

It is difficult to share your faith when the church speaks a different language to the people.

Most of our books, teachings, and communication use far too many religious terms. We need to find simple ways of sharing what Jesus has done for us.

Christians have a bad name: hypocrites, bigots, small-minded, judgemental... People would be open to Jesus’ message of hope if it weren’t for the bad press.

I’m so concerned that Christians are more interested in preaching AT people than really communicating with them!

BELIEVERS NEED TO BE EQUIPPED Most believers do not know what to say and they don’t know who to say it to.

They’ve not been envisioned, trained and sent out by their local churches.

Where Christians are being failed in evangelism is a distinct lack of equipping.

The bulk of churches are institutions, really only interested in maintaining their programmes, positions, salaries, etc.

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Misconceptions they have got the wrong idea about Christianity

Evangelism comes way down the list.

Every believer should be able to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15) and be a witness, but not every believer is gifted to be an evangelist.

I always feel I should be doing more but often get confused about how I should go about it.

Apathy - they are simply not interested

Hypocrisy - what they see in Christians doesn't match up to the message of Jesus Language - Christians don't know how to explain the Gospel in ways people can understand They've never heard it! - nobody has told them the good news

Share your views and responses by writing to editor@vox. ie. If you know of a particularly interesting or inspirational example of evangelism in a local community, why not invite VOX to visit during the 2015 Finding Faith Tour? (See page 13)

What does this tell you about the way our churches “do” evangelism?

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST REACTION WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD EVANGELISM?

OUR APPROACH ‘Follow Jesus’ is my part; ‘make you fishers of men’ is His part. I need to make sure I’ve got my focus and priority right and know who is the one who empowers and enables me.

No way - this is not for me Embarrassment - I wish "evangelists" wouldn't do that

Questions - we have great news, why are people not interested?

Evangelism works best when people know you and believe you care about them.

Evangelism might not seem so scary if Christians simply lived as Jesus would - going the extra mile, spreading kindness, giving of their time and resources. People ask me why I’m so happy and it opens the door right up to sharing my faith!

Guilt - should do more

Christians need to live out their lives as Jesus called us to do, loving our neighbour, no matter who they are, what they’ve done or what they believe, loving one another, etc.

Longing - I'm desperate for my friends & family to know Jesus

It is love that brings people to Christ - God’s love and our love. It is all about making a phone call to someone who is sad, attending a funeral to be supportive, giving a hug, listening, being sensitive, telling someone you are praying for them. It is about turning off our ‘judgement button’ and taking people where they’re at. It’s about being willing to share the reason for your hope if others ask (or if there is a natural opportunity) and not throwing it at everyone you meet.

Yes!! - love it

I believe we need to speak less, act more, and create hunger and curiosity.

We go and preach the Gospel on the street / door to door

We include the Gospel message in Sunday sermons

Evangelism should be the overflow of personal devotion to Christ and not just the product of corporate ministries and platforms.

We serve our community

We encourage church members to share their faith

We run special outreach events or programmes

We invite people to church

HOW IS YOUR CHURCH INVOLVED IN OUTREACH?

We pray for people in our community

A Colleague

Reading the Bible

Youth Group or Sunday School

An event or programme

My Church

Family member

A Friend

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN YOU COMING TO FAITH IN JESUS?

I think Christians are too concerned with ‘sharing the Gospel’ and not enough with quietly following Jesus, doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with their God. If we just lived our devotion to Jesus and allowed our lives to be marked by our love, more people would know Christians as good people and not as hypocritical, judgemental, hateful people.

[You need to…] spend A LOT less time in meetings and trying to get people to come to your thing, and most of your time serving and loving others in practical ways. It takes a real personal investment in people for the long haul.

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FAITH

THE EVIDENCE NO LONGER DEMANDS A VERDICT

BY SCOTT EVANS

remember it so well. It was the year 2000. The embers of the faith I had inherited from my parents had been stoked into flames by local youth ministry and annual Christian camps. I made up my mind to be an evangelist in my school — to obey the “Great Commission” and make disciples.

At first, I was afraid. How could I argue against my indisputably more intelligent classmates? How could I convince them of something that I could not prove?

Not to fear. Help was at hand. I was living in the age of accessible apologetics. It began with Frank Morrison’s Who Moved The Stone? in 1987. Josh McDowell followed up with Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Then, in 1998, Lee Strobel blasted naysayers with The Case for Christ (though he may have been a little overzealous in following it up with The Case for

I

there was a Stephen Fry. I wasn’t aware of the New Atheists and their (often well-founded) critiques of both historical religion and modern-day Christianity.

CONCERNING LEPRECHAUNS

There is a wonderful Irish folk story about a man who caught a leprechaun. According to folklore, when a leprechaun is caught, he must obey your commands to the letter — which explains why they are so crafty. They will fulfil the words literally but will also exploit any possible loophole. Such was the case with this man who demanded to know where the leprechaun’s treasure was hidden.

Begrudgingly, the leprechaun led him deep into the forest, pointed to a tree and said, “There, beneath the roots, is where my gold is hidden.” The farmer now faced a quandary. He could not dig up the treasure by hand nor could he trust the leprechaun not to move it, so he tied THIS EVIDENCE WILL NOT BE FOUND IN THE BONES OF LIVES LONG a ribbon to a branch on the tree and said, must get my shovel. I command you PAST BUT RATHER IN THE FLESH OF LIVES HERE IN THE PRESENT. “I not to move your treasure and not to touch my ribbon.”

When the man returned with his tools in his hand and his heart in his Faith, The Case for Grace, The Case for the Real Jesus and mouth, he found that every branch of every tree in the The Case for Christ for Kids). forest was adorned with an identical ribbon.

Stuffed with the highlights of these tomes, I Such is life for a Christian in the 21st century. In swaggered through my school believing I had all the modern era (1500-2000 or so), the pursuit of truth the answers, that in five minutes I could dismantle was like seeking a leprechaun’s treasure in an unknown everything from evolution to Islam. The truth was forest. At the turn of the century, I believed I had found buried treasure, and I knew where it was hidden. it and was ready to share it with my friends.

What I didn’t know was that for every Heartbreakingly, in the short amount of time it Morrison there was a Richard Dawkins; for every took me to race home and get my shovel, I found McDowell there was a Hitchens; and for every Strobel that the ribbon no longer marked the spot. Instead, it

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VOX MAGAZINE

marked every spot. We had entered the age described by “If reincarnation is how the world works, then the Manic Street Preachers album This Is My Truth. Tell everybody I meet is getting what they deserve. So Me Yours. if they’re rich or beautiful or healthy or happy, they I had only turned my back for a moment and probably deserve to be and I should honour that. So the world had changed. No one was interested in debating the facts. No one cared who moved the stone. No one wanted to hear the case for Christ. As far AS WE SEEK TO SHARE THE TRUTH, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT as my world was concerned, the evidence THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IS MORE LIKELY TO LOOK AT OUR no longer demanded a verdict.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAN OUR DOCTRINAL STATEMENTS. For many of us, this was a jarring, disorienting experience. It took the wind out of our sails and knocked our feet out from under us. Over the last ten years I’ve spent in youth ministry, however, I have too with the poor, the hurting, and the disenfranchised learned that this new era offers us new possibilities for getting the life they deserve. mission and ministry.

“If that’s the case, then reincarnation calls me to resign myself to the world as it is. Christianity, however, A HEARTFELT CONVERSATION calls me to live in opposition to the way the world is. The A few years ago, my team and I were volunteering Kingdom of God that the Bible describes calls Christians at a youth festival in Wicklow. Joining us for that to revolution and transformation.” weekend was a work experience student - one of the His response was brilliant. “I guess I can’t really most insightful and deep-thinking young people I’ve believe in reincarnation any more, can I?” ever met. He wasn’t a Christian, but he was fascinated This was not an intellectual argument about religion. by the youth ministry we did and the potential it had for It was a heart-filled conversation about living in tune impacting people’s lives. with the God who made the world.

Sitting around a fire one evening, we began to talk deeply about our faith and how it shapes our lives. Later, A DIFFERENT KIND OF EVIDENCE I asked the student how he felt about what was said and I wrote earlier that ‘the evidence doesn’t demand a if any of it resonated with him. verdict,’ but perhaps it’s not as simple as that. Perhaps He answered, “Yeah man, it’s really interesting stuff. the world is looking for a different kind of evidence, a But I’m not really into the Christian thing. I’m more different kind of declaration of the truth of the risen of a believer in reincarnation. What do you think of Jesus. This evidence will not be found in the bones of reincarnation?” lives long past but rather in the flesh of lives here in the I had been well-prepared but poorly trained for present; not in apologetics and archaeology but rather in this moment. So much of my Christian training and servanthood and sacrifice. experience had told me that I should immediately As we seek to share the truth, we must acknowledge lambast reincarnation as unbiblical and correct his that the world in which we live is more likely to look at philosophy with sound teaching. our financial statements than our doctrinal statements.

But he didn’t ask me what the Bible said about it. He As John Ortberg said, “Don’t tell me what you believe. asked me what I thought of it.

Show me how you live and I’ll tell you what you I replied, “I know I don’t believe in reincarnation... believe.”

But I haven’t really thought about why. Let me come It is scary living in a world that is uninterested in our back to you.” logical answers, but if we can get past that fear, we will The next morning, I picked him up on the way to discover that people are fascinated by those who live the the festival. As we drove, I told him: “I’ve been thinking Jesus life in beautiful and compelling ways. about reincarnation and I’ve figured out why I don’t believe in it. I understand why it would be a compelling Scott Evans is an Irish speaker, blogger, and author belief about the next life but, for me, it ruins life in the of three books: Closer Still, Beautiful Attitudes, and here and now.

Failing from the Front. You can find out more about Scott and his work at www.scottevans.ie, or find him on Twitter at @notscottevans.

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10 IDEAS FOR REACHING YOUR COMMUNITY

ick Park from the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland writes: When I was a young child, my schoolteacher told me that if everyone in China jumped in the air at the same time, the combined force of their landing would be so great that the earth would be knocked out of its orbit around the sun. Thankfully, that story turned out to be an urban legend with no basis in fact.

Yet there is still a great power in individuals cooperating to achieve the seemingly impossible. For example, if every person who claims to be a born-again believer reached just one person for Christ each year, within four years, the entire population of the world would be Christian.

Just one person reaching one other person. That is the concept behind Global Outreach Day (G.O.D.). On one single day - the Saturday after Pentecost, which this year is May 30 - millions of Christians will each prayerfully and intentionally share the Gospel with at least one other person.

It could be as simple as meeting a friend for coffee or inviting them out for a meal. It could be something you do with others, such as organising a concert or staging a drama event. The idea is that we each find the best way that works for us in sharing Jesus with somebody else, and then we all do it on the same day.

Eight million Christians, from all over the world, have already embraced this simple concept and are participating in Global Outreach Day 2015. Will you join them?

If so, then start praying now for God to show you how you can share your faith, and with whom. Visit www.evangelical.ie and follow the Global Outreach Day links. You will find testimonies, ideas, and free booklets and training videos to help you.

N

VOX columnist Ken Baker shares practical ideas to help churches and individuals engage and reach out into their local community!

1 2 3 4 5 6

Get a job in the area. (Yes, really!!)

Join your local gym/swimming club/ choir/darts team or whatever!

Offer a free service that is needed (we do Maths and English tuition, guitar and piano lessons…)

Get involved in a local charity or offer to serve on the committee for a local community group such as Tidy Towns. (I became director of a Family Life Centre).

Join your neighbourhood residents’ committee.

7 8 9 10

Develop social enterprise if there’s something missing locally: a homework club, after-school club, age action centre, citizen’s advice bureau, counselling service, crèche, etc. (If you lack the skills, you could offer others the use of your premises).

Volunteer in a charity shop.

Offer work placements or internships for long-term unemployed in your business or in one of the above social enterprises.

Offer courses in areas of expressed need such as suicide awareness, first aid, marriage, divorce, computer skills, completing forms, money management, etc.

Do all of the above in an atmosphere of gracious kindness and humility.

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CONFESSIONS OF A FEINT SAINT

VOX MAGAZINE

Preaching to the Choir

By Annmarie Miles bout ten years ago, I was at a birthday party in a friend’s house. At the end of the night, the stragglers were sitting around the host’s kitchen table, chatting and drinking tea. The host’s dad joined us, and a conversation ensued about how I’d ended up living so far from home and married to a Welshman. Not one for refusing the opportunity to tell a story, I regaled the table with my journey of faith, my realisation of God at different times in my life, my world-changing connection with Him at 22, and my weak attempts to live as He would want me to since then.

Back at work on Monday, the birthday boy thanked me for sharing so honestly with his dad.

He asked me to continue to pray for him to believe and follow Christ.

Not for one moment had it occurred to me that anyone around the table did not share my beliefs; I just presumed I was preaching to the choir.

To my shame, my first reaction to realising that I’d poured out the Director’s Cut of my story to someone who didn’t believe in God was horror. I apologised profusely to my friend, but he was delighted. He told me that as I was talking, he was saying to inwardly, “Yes Amo! You go for it. Tell him…” I was saying things to his dad that he would never have been able to; he was grateful. I was embarrassed.

You see, I always had myself down as a rubbish evangelist.

There’s a song we sing in our church in which, the last line of the chorus says, “and you’re now at work in me to change the world.” I never used to sing that line because it felt like I was lying.

How could I change the world? I was too chicken to share Jesus with anyone. Mission trips always filled me with dread. Street evangelism, Holiday Bible Clubs – I just wanted to run away. I always felt like a failure when it came to evangelism.

I learned after that night that I can tell a story. I can tell my story. That’s what I’m good at; it’s where my strength is. It’s where my honesty is. It’s where my humour is. It’s where my ability to ‘evangelise’ is.

It took me years to get it, but we’re not all called to stand on street corners or go to a far-flung country. Some of us are, but some of us are simply called to tell stories and drink tea.

Now THAT I can do!

A

“Some of us are simply called to tell stories and drink tea.”

Annmarie Miles is originally from Tallaght, now living in her husband Richard’s homeland, Wales. If you’d like to read more between VOX Magazines, her blog is called Just Another Christian Woman Talking Through Her Hat.The Long & the Short of it, her first collection of short stories, can be found at www. annmariemiles.com/books, or you can pick it up in Footprints bookshops in Dublin.

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R E X O B P THE SOA

VOX MAGAZINE

BY DR KEN BAKER

WHEN SOMETHING REALLY GOOD HAPPENS, WHO WANTS TO KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES?

ass evangelism is like hunting rabbits with a brass Imagine any use of the word “preach” outside of the band,” one Christian author said. hallowed halls of pulpiteering, and it conveys a quality of What do you think? nagging, condescending, or belittling, whether or not you The metaphor that Jesus used was altogether intend that. more subtle: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

The King James Bible uses the phrase “bring good Recently, I read St Patrick’s take on this. “…We ought to tidings.” This is better, but no cigar, because the word basar fish well and diligently, as the Lord exhorts in advance and in Isaiah 61 carries the strong implication of cheerfulness. teaches, saying: Come after me, and I will make you fishers This is something to get happily excited about! of men. And again He says through the prophets: Behold, I Strong’s Concordance says the word means “to be send many fishers and hunters, fresh (figuratively cheerful), to saith God, and so on. Hence announce, bear, carry, preach, it was most necessary to tell good tidings.” Verb: “to THIS IS GOOD, GOOD NEWS… THE VERY BEST! spread our nets so that a great bear tidings, to be glad, multitude and throng might be joyful; he rejoiced him with the caught for God.” (Confession) message of the birth of a son.”

He takes a rather loose Did you get the gist? Here translation of Jeremiah 16:16 to give the two sides of the it is: “Rejoice him with the message of the birth of a son”! issue: fishers wait and hunters pursue.

Something new, wonderful and exciting. No wonder all the worry-lines have been smoothed away. This is good, good news… the very best!

BUT WHAT DOES EVANGELISM LOOK LIKE IN THE NEW I remember when my adopted son first called me Dad. TESTAMENT? The memory still makes me cry with happiness. I remember When Jesus sent out His disciples two by two, the list of the births of my next three, and the special input of the instructions was short: 1. Preach. 2. Cast out demons. 3. Heal. dozens that we fostered. My kids. My joy and crown. Such joy The opening gambit of Jesus’s public ministry is carefully is life itself. Jesus came to rejoice us with the message of the recorded in Luke 4. Jesus opens the scroll of Isaiah at the birth of a son! synagogue in Nazareth and reads from chapter 61. “The When you speak of news like this, it’s difficult to keep Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because still. When Jairus put his arms around the daughter whom he the Lord has anointed me to preach good thought he had lost forever, he was not sober and restrained news to the poor…” about it.

That’s a fairly regular translation of a vital verse, but the translation misses one interesting point. The phrase “preach good news” is actually one word in Hebrew, basar.

Dr Ken Baker is an author and pastor, There’s nothing really wrong with the based in Longford. Contact him on translation into “preach” except for kenbaker255@gmail.com or feel free to what that word has come to connote. heckle on Facebook or Twitter.

It is, nowadays, a “preachy” kind of word, a bit stuffy and sanctimonious. No one wants anyone to “preach” at them outside of a very specific setting.

M

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LIFE

VOX MAGAZINE

CONNECTING FAITH WITH REAL LIFE

Stories from around Ireland

All over the island of Ireland, churches and individual Christians are finding positive and innovative ways to engage with their local communities. Here are a few we find inspirational. Why not tell us about projects happening in your area? Write to editor@vox.ie.

Engaging with Rural Ireland

A church in Roscommon has found a “ewe-nique” opportunity to connect with their local community through the annual “Lamb Festival” at the end of April. This celebration of all things woolly has opened the door for St. Coman’s Church of Ireland to talk about Jesus, the Lamb of God, and to support local farmers. Check out www.roscommonlambfestival.com.

Engaging with the City

Holy Week 2015 offered people in Belfast the chance to take time out for an “urban pilgrimage”. The Passion Walk, first launched in Edinburgh, offered a walking route around Belfast city centre, along with an audio guide. People were invited to reflect on the final hours of Jesus’ life, pausing at key locations around the city. The walk enabled people to engage with the story of the cross in a new way, against the backdrop of a busy modern city. One participant commented, "Relating the story to the city where I live has made the reality of the story come alive." Visit www.passionwalk.org.

Engaging with the Media

The wonderful Fair Play Café in Ringsend, Dublin, has found a brilliant way to engage with the media by challenging newspaper editors to share “good news stories.” One whole wall of the café is pasted with newspaper front covers featuring positive news headlines. This has enabled Joe Donnolly to connect with editors and journalists all over the country and to challenge them to consider the impact of the stories they are writing. “Bad news has gone viral,” Joe told VOX magazine. “This is not a denial that we are in a bad place as a nation but it is a statement that we need to celebrate the good news even in the midst of the bad news!”

Engaging with School Children

Hundreds of young people around Ireland are exploring the Christian faith thanks to the new Youth Alpha film series launched last year. The upbeat presentation includes comments from Irish people and gives an opportunity for teenagers to ask questions and share their views about life, God, and church. For many, it has opened the door to a relationship with Jesus. One exciting initiative has been the opportunity to set up “prayer spaces” in Irish schools - places where young people can come and express their prayers to God in creative ways. Visit www.alphayouth.ie to find out more.

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MY STORY “My Story” is an opportunity for ordinary people living in Ireland to talk about their journey to faith or the impact God has in their daily lives.

JENNIFER’S STORY

“FAR FROM BEING AN OBSTACLE TO UNION WITH GOD, WEAKNESS AND VULNERABILITY CAN FOSTER THAT SPIRITUAL CONNECTION.”

BY RUTH GARVEY-WILLIAMS

VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams chats with Jennifer Bullock about life and faith, caring for children with autism, and making the church a more accessible place for people with disabilities.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR HUSBAND. We are Jennifer and Simon Bullock and we have three children: David, Mark, and Emma. I work part time as an occupational therapist, and Simon is a beef farmer and a “social farmer.”

Together we

look after our three children.

David and Mark have autism and a learning disability. A lot of people don’t understand what that means. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects people in different ways. Some are able to live independently, while others will require a lifetime of special support. All people with autism share difficulties with social communication, interaction, and imagination.

We live in a thatched cottage at the old Aghalane Bridge in Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh. At the bottom of our garden is Woodford River, which is the border with Cavan, so my closest neighbours are in the Republic of Ireland.

YOU AND SIMON ARE INVOLVED IN “SOCIAL FARMING”. WHAT IS THAT?

Social farming, also known as “care” farming, is where people come into an ordinary farm and engage in

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purposeful and meaningful activities. We have established Annagh Social Farms where we provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities. We strive to show God’s love through caring, respectful, and developing relationships. Activities include planting and harvesting fruit and vegetables, making jam, farm maintenance, and helping to care for the livestock on the farm.

We had a peach tree for about five years that never produced anything. In January, I had the opportunity to travel to South Carolina to visit the Church of the Cross led

by Rev. Chuck Owens. I had not travelled since the children were born, so it was a major thing. It was a great experience to see their church growth. While I was there, I got talking to a woman who grew peach trees. She explained what I should have been doing to our tree. So, this year, we had a lovely harvest of peaches for the first time ever! I noticed that ours were a strange shape, but then I discovered they were donut peaches.

As we’re growing fruit, we also feel that we are

developing the fruit of the spirit... love, joy, peace... that Paul talks about in Galatians 5:22-23.

toilets, handrails, and hearing loops and designing seats so someone in a wheelchair doesn’t end up sitting in the aisle sticking out like a sore thumb - these are all important. However, it is also about learning to understand the needs of those with learning disabilities.

Because of changes in the legislation, more people are now living in the community, but is the local church ready for them to attend church? You can’t legislate for people’s attitude! Some adults with

Instead of the sermon, we act out the Gospel message as a drama. Many guests want to participate, so we have lots of people on stage. At the end, we have a craft table WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? on the theme of what we have done, and we We are very much part of the disability serve refreshments. That gives each person world both professionally and personally. something to take home with them, and We interact with a lot of people who are while they are busy making something, the anxious and sadly without a hopeful future carer can have some down time. We give for their son, daughter, brother, or sister. opportunity for carers to talk and pray with We believe that God is using our skills and someone as well. experiences to change things for a better and I’ve also set up a sensory room just off provide a more hopeful the main hall. It includes future for parents, bubble tubes and soft carers, and those with lighting. One of my PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITY OFTEN POSSESS QUALITIES LIKE disabilities. boys is noise sensitive, We feel we can’t do WELCOME, SPONTANEITY, AND DIRECTNESS. THEY ARE ABLE TO TOUCH HEARTS so he often goes into that this on our own. It is room.

AND TO CALL OTHERS TO UNITY AND TO SIMPLICITY AND VULNERABILITY. according to God’s work

in us, and He is able to WHAT INFLUENCE DOES do more than we ask or YOUR FAITH HAVE IN ALL even imagine, as it says in OF THIS? Ephesians 3:20. learning disabilities have said they had Matthew 25 says, “Whatever you did

better relationships and community when for one of the least of these brothers of HOW SHOULD THE CHURCH REACT TO PEOPLE in hospital, because out in the “community” mine, you did it for me…” We consider WITH DISABILITIES? they feel quite isolated. The church has a big everyone as a necessary part of the body of Churches should always strive to be challenge to meet the needs of those who Christ, not for what he or she might have welcoming and supportive of the weak, feel isolated or unloved. been nor what he or she could become, but vulnerable, and marginalised! Everyone is The biggest thing you can do is to as he or she is at this moment! Within the of unique and sacred value, whether you ask them how we can help. Listen and community of Christ, people with learning have a disability or not, and every one has pray about the answers. Take people’s disabilities belong as themselves, valuable the same dignity and the same rights. Since suggestions seriously and be aware that no and worthy because of and not in spite of the deepest need of a human being is to love two people’s experiences or disabilities will their difference. and be loved, each person has the right to be the same.

I find 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 helpful. friendship, communion, and a spiritual life.

God comforts us in our troubles so that People with learning disabilities often TELL US ABOUT THE FRIENDSHIP SERVICES we can comfort others. Simon and I are possess qualities like welcome, spontaneity, YOU RUN IN DERRYLIN. very grateful for the prayerful and practical and directness. They are able to touch hearts Last year, we felt that we should equip support we receive from those who stand and to call others to unity and to simplicity ourselves better to support the spiritual with us. and vulnerability. In this way, they are a needs of those with learning disabilities, so living reminder to the wider world of the I took a course called “Learning Disability central values of the heart. Far from being and the Church” at Belfast Bible College. an obstacle to union with God, weakness After I completed the course, we started and vulnerability can foster that spiritual a new Sunday-afternoon service designed connection. specially for people with learning disabilities.

Initially, this was once every two months, SO HOW CAN WE SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THIS but now we run the services once a month.

SITUATION? We sing simple, repetitive songs that are Paul wrote that those parts of the body easy to learn, and we hand out streamers that seem to be weaker are indispensable. (sticks with ribbons on them) and musical If we believe that the Christian Gospel is instruments when people arrive. My boys can’t for everyone, we need to include disabled talk, so this means they still can participate people in the lives of our churches. even though they can’t sing. We also do some Creating accessible parking, disabled singing with Makaton sign language.

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FAITH

pray invite

What happened when we challenged our people to pray for their neighbours and invite them to church?

BY PJ BOOTH

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ew years ago, we knew that we wanted to sure that our visitors feel welcome. If the guy in the do a big outreach. We noticed that our car park is nasty or you don’t get a welcome on the peak month for church attendance was door or if the toilets are dirty, a newcomer will not be always around March/April time. So impressed with the message we are trying to share! we decided to plan something special for the week before Easter. Then we could invite people back the PRAYING FOR OUR NEIGHBOURS following week for Easter Day. Then after Christmas, we started to pray for our Two books really made an impact on our neighbours. From January all the way until the end of thinking: The Irresistible Church by Wayne Cordeiro March, we prayed for people. We did prayer walks and Prayer Evangelism by Ed Silvoso. and arranged nights of prayer. Seven days a week, We started in September with a whole series of people were praying for their neighbours. And when teaching on the purpose of the local church. What is you start praying for your neighbour, you really begin so important about church? The local church is the to care about them. hope of the nation! There is no plan B; the church is The concept was “Pray, Invite, Bring” - don’t just God’s plan A for reaching the world with the good invite someone, but offer to bring them. Pick them up. news about Jesus Christ.

Arrange to have lunch afterwards.

We had to make a big decision: Sunday church is We told people, “Don’t invite 50; just invite one. no longer for the believer. Sunday church is for the Don’t try to be an evangelist; just love people and visitors. We wanted to make sure that people could trust us with their friends and neighbours. Our people needed to love church and to feel confident to THERE IS NO PLAN B; THE CHURCH IS GOD’S PLAN A FOR REACHING invite people! Everything we did was geared towards that. (We have midTHE WORLD WITH THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. week meetings that are geared around the needs of our own people for study, prayer and worship).

On Sundays, we keep preaching to a maximum of 35 minutes, and the message has to simply invite them to come church with you.” That be relevant to what people do on Monday morning. took the pressure right off. If you spend three months I always bring in the Gospel message. We welcome praying for one person, it becomes easier. everyone and explain what we are going to do so there At the time, we had 300 people in our are no surprises. congregation, but when Palm Sunday arrived, 700 It even comes down to the language we use. If people came and around 70 responded to the Gospel we start talking about the “blood of Jesus,” that can message! So often we become discouraged and stop sound weird. We need to explain what we mean and expecting things to change. After that, our people use language that people can understand. were encouraged and grew in expectation of what We began to recognise that we are all in this God could do. together. Jesus said, “I will build my church.” But Many of those visitors came back the following Jesus does not turn on the lights or paint the walls week. Now, we have visitors every single Sunday. that is our job. Jesus holds everything together. He And every week, we see people choosing to follow is our anchor and foundation, but He won’t put out Jesus. That is a shift. the seats. We are all part of the Great Commission This cost us nothing! Our own people are excited (Matthew 28:19-20) and, like a jigsaw puzzle, you about it. Our church grew in faith, encouragement, can’t miss a single piece. So it is vital for everyone to and enthusiasm as much as in numbers. And I play their part and use the gifts God has given them. believe this approach will work whether you have a We have 60 people who serve on a Sunday making church of 10 or 500!

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PJ Booth is Senior Pastor of Open Arms Church in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, and former National Leader of Assemblies of God Ireland. Open Arms was launched in 2000 with 30 people and since then has grown to be a congregation of over 500 people.

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Prayer

Evangelism SEEKING SPIRITUAL CLIMATE CHANGE

BY CLIFFORD SULLIVAN

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any Christians’ view of evangelism is that it involves awkward conversations with strangers about something they don’t want to hear. We don’t feel “gifted” to share our faith, and we haven’t thought of our neighbourhoods, workplaces, and the communities where we are as being the “harvest fields”. We conclude that evangelism is not for us.

However, we can all pray. We can all bless. If we accept that we can reach out to those around us through prayer and blessing, our view of our abilities to evangelise might change. We know that people come to Christ as a result of prayer. This principle of praying for the salvation of others can be applied to all those we live and work alongside.

The apostle Paul addressed this in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 when he urged prayer for all people, especially those in authority, so that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. The passage continues, “This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

As Ed Silvoso states in his book Prayer Evangelism, 1 Timothy 2:1-4 appears to say that prayer leads to an increase of peace, godliness and holiness - in other words, a change in the spiritual climate, which leads to significant numbers of people coming to faith.

The scripture suggests that there is a clear connection between praying for all people and all people being saved. If we accept that connection, we can conclude firstly that we should pray intentionally, both individually and corporately, for all those around us, and, secondly, that our prayer is evangelism and is effective.

Prayer lays the spiritual groundwork for people’s hearts to open up to the Lord.

Communication of the Gospel (the good news about Jesus) must happen, but we first need to address the spiritual blindness, which 2 Corinthians 4:4 says prevents people from being able to see “the light of the glory of the Gospel of Christ.”

Telling strangers that they will go to hell if they don’t receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour seems more like bad news than good news, and we shy away from it. However, evangelism through prayer and blessing is attractive, and we can all do it. Not many of us are gifted “evangelists” in the traditional sense, but we can all pray for others.

The principle here is “talk to God about

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AN INTERESTING THING HAPPENS WHEN WE START TO PRAY FOR OUR NEIGHBOUR; WE START TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR.

your neighbour before you talk to your neighbour about God”. Sharing the Gospel with someone is more likely to succeed if you have been previously praying for them.

This is the essence of prayer evangelism – all Christians living a lifestyle of praying for others and blessing them, with the result that people within their communities come to Christ.

People need context. Prayer evangelism suggests that we should first of all bless, fellowship, and minister to others in order to demonstrate Christ, so that our Gospel message will then have authenticity and power. In Luke 10:1-9, Jesus instructs His disciples to do four things:

1) BLESS: “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’” We cannot change what we do not embrace. Bless them; don’t blast them!

2) FELLOWSHIP: “Stay in that house, eating

and drinking what they give you.” We get to know people and they get to know us. They see Jesus in us. We become aware of their needs.

3) MINISTER: “Heal those in it who are sick.”

We minister to people’s felt needs. We connect man’s need with God’s resources, so people see a demonstration of God’s love towards them and His power to change their lives.

I suggest this means that as the disciples obeyed Jesus’ instructions, evil powers fell and a change occurred in the spiritual climate. This is the only occasion that Jesus talked about Satan falling like lightning.

An interesting thing happens when we start to pray for our neighbour; we start to love our neighbour. Prayer activates care.

God changes our hearts first. People see and like the fact that we genuinely care.

This creates openness to minister to their needs. We ask them if we can pray to our God about their need, and God, loving them as He does, will surely want to answer our prayers for them. People see the love and power of God in action before we open our mouths to share the Gospel message. It is about grace and truth… in that order!

Truly loving our neighbours changes our relationship with them. As every Christian prays and cares for their communities, there is a resultant increase of trust and receptivity to the Gospel. It changes the spiritual climate, with the possibility of a significant spiritual outcome for the entire community.

God desires “that none should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). This spiritual dynamic is true at a macro level, too, as we meet the needs of ‘broken’ cities and nations. As we seek to heal and meet their needs, cities will open up to us and to the Gospel of the Kingdom.

This is Good News!

For more information, email the author at clifford.ITNIreland@gmail.com.

4) PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM: “Say to them, the

Kingdom of God has come near to you.” Now people have context as we talk about Jesus because they have already experienced God’s Kingdom at work.

These four steps constitute the Prayer Evangelism model that Ed Silvoso describes in detail in his book. Luke 10:17 records that the disciples returned with joy, relating their experiences back to Jesus. Even the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name. Jesus’ response in the following verse is significant.

He said “I saw Satan fall like lightning…”

Clifford Sullivan is a lawyer practising in Bray, is married to Joan and has two teenage children. They attend Saol Nua Community Church, Greystones. Clifford is a member of the International Transformation Network, founded by Dr Ed Silvoso. This article is drawn from various books written by Dr Silvoso.

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LAUNCHING CORÓNÚ ÍOSA

REACHING ALL OF IRELAND WITH THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS

n May 1999, a new adventure began for a small team of Bible College students and friends. Their vision was “to see the people of Ireland crown Jesus Lord of their lives.” From humble beginnings, the ministry expanded to a staff of nine who share the good news of Jesus with tens of thousands of people every year.

In January 2015, Crown Jesus Ministries established their first office in the Republic of Ireland, with evangelist Greg Nelson from Co. Monaghan leading this new project.

The ministry will be known as Crown Jesus Ministries and Corónú Íosa, with a new Irish logo being the dominant feature.

Mitch, one of the co-founders, explained the change: “The most important thing for us is to communicate the good news of Jesus and love of God in a real and relevant way. As an established ministry in Northern Ireland, it is important that

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our brand does not get in the way of what really matters. By using the Irish language, it shows our intent to reach all of Ireland.”

Crown Jesus projects are wide ranging, from puppets and comic books for children, large youth concerts, café church (such as the Hope Café in Monaghan), evangelism, and prayer ministry training.

Hope Café was born out of a Crown Jesus project in Monaghan in partnership with Ballyalbany Church. Opened in May 2014, the Hope Café is a missional project in the community running a regular Sunday evening café church as well as English-speaking classes and a mid-week drop-in centre.

For more information on the work of Crown Jesus and how they could help serve you, your church, and your community, please contact mitch@crownjesus.org or greg@crownjesus.ie.

SHARING YOUR STORY

Mitch (Keith Mitchell) is an evangelist and co-founder of Crown Jesus Ministries in Northern Ireland, which has now started working in the Republic of Ireland as well. In this edition of VOX magazine, we share an extract (used with permission) from Mitch’s new book available from March 2015: Together: Life Changing Perspectives to Inspire Youth Ministry. This practical advice for youth leaders also applies to Christians who are keen to share their faith with others.

There are many ways we can use words in evangelism, but I’ve discovered that knowing and telling our story can be a great starting point. We all love good stories. They are the essential part of blockbuster movies, successful TV dramas, and advertising.

Newspapers survive by catching the ‘big story’ on their front page. Everyone is interested in and remembers a good story, which is why the testimony of young people is one of the most effective evangelistic resources in your church. How many Christian young people never share their story? What a shame that stories are often undervalued and underused.

I believe that every youth leader should write out their story, share it with their

WE ALL LOVE GOOD STORIES. THEY ARE THE ESSENTIAL PART OF BLOCKBUSTER MOVIES, SUCCESSFUL TV DRAMAS, AND ADVERTISING. young people, and help them do the same.

Start by setting aside time for your group to work on their stories, in small groups of three or four, where they can share with each other and invite feedback, ideas, or suggestions. Encourage people to make notes and talk about each of the four headings below:

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want to know: how you felt, what you prayed, who was there, who you told first, were you afraid, or did anyone laugh at you?

YOUR LIFE SINCE YOU BECAME A CHRISTIAN

How has life been since?

What impact has Jesus made, what are you involved in, how did others react, has it been difficult? What are your dreams for the future? Make sure your story is balanced. If you share YOUR LIFE BEFORE YOU ENCOUNTERED 90% of your story on life before Jesus and CHRIST only 10% on life since, there is a danger that What was important to you before it becomes all about you rather than Jesus. you became a Christian? How did you Help your young people grow in try to find your value and purpose in life? confidence and creativity in passing on their These questions help connect you with story. Individuals could try writing it down, your listeners reading it to or readers. If one another, sharing past recording it HELP YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE GROW IN CONFIDENCE on video, or mistakes or attitudes, do this AND CREATIVITY IN PASSING ON THEIR STORY. posting it on wisely; people social networks do not need to or a dedicated know every dark webpage. thought and action!

Encourage them to find ways to share and Tell how God featured in your life challenge them to identify the people they before you became a Christian. Did you go want to tell. to Sunday School, have a Christian parent or other influence? If you have had a very HERE ARE A FEW TIPS: clear Christian family upbringing and do not Be prayerful! recall a time when you were not a Christian, make no apology for this. Your story is as Be brief: I have a two-minute testimony, powerful as anyone else’s. It highlights the a five-minute testimony, and a 20-minute faithfulness of God. testimony mapped out. There are only a few occasions when I have shared the 20-minute WHEN YOU REALISED YOU NEEDED JESUS version, while the two-minute version is What sparked your interest? Was it a life shared almost weekly. experience? Was it coming in contact with Christians? What made you want to know Be yourself: You are special. There is no one more about God? How did you respond to like you. all of this? How did it make you feel?

Be honest: Tell your experience in a real HOW YOU ENCOUNTERED JESUS and relevant way. When we look in the When did you make a response? Was Bible and at our own lives, we see many it over a period of time or in a specific examples of how life can be tough, prayers moment? Was there a person who helped? go unanswered, and even occasions when we What exactly happened? It’s amazing how can wonder where God is. many people skim over this point. People

Be simple and straightforward: We can talk in such a Christian way that people don’t understand a word we are saying!

Avoid religious language that leaves people completely lost. Speak to people in a way they understand.

Be enthusiastic: Two things crack me up: lazy Christians and negative Christians. Why can people not be enthusiastic about their faith? Maybe we can’t always be happy, but we shouldn’t always be miserable!

Be Christ-centred: Remember that the purpose of your story is to bring glory to Jesus, not yourself! It is all about Him and what He has done in your life.

Be creative: I adapt my story in different contexts. Why? I am trying to connect with my listeners early on to bring them with me on the journey.

Mitch (Keith Mitchell) is a Christian communicator and co-founder of Crown Jesus Ministries. Having served over 16 years with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, he stepped into full-time ministry in 2011.

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Summer FIRE CONFERENCE 26th June - 3rd July 2015

International Spe ake r

2015

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& ise a r P

Worship

Childrens M inist ry

1995

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2015

Trabolgan Holiday Village, Co. Cork

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Keynote Speakers Summer Fire Conference is honoured to have a variety of ministers who have the Word of the Lord and are at the cutting edge of ministry.

Pastor Carter Conlon New York, USA Pastor Carter Conlon is the Senior Pastor of Times Square Church. Pastor Carter has a shepherd’s heart and a great love for Ireland. He is a tender and compassionate man, who is loved and well respected for his strong leadership and passion for God. Pastor Carter ministers regularly to nearly 2000 Pastors and Leaders worldwide through a ministry that he started called ‘For Pastors Only’ Pastor Teresa Conlon New York, USA Teresa Conlon is an Associate Pastor at Times Square Church. She delivers messages of truth and freedom that cut to the heart of even the deepest issues. Teresa is also president of Summit International school of ministry, (formerly Mt Zion School of Ministry) located in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.

Pastor Jay Fallon Following a radical encounter with Jesus Christ, Jay broke free from an addictive lifestyle to serve God. For over 20 yrs he has been in full time ministry, travelling as an evangelist, working with long term drug addicts and alcoholics.

He currently serves as one of the Directors of Teen Challenge UK, and is also part of local Church Leadership.

He is passionate about seeing people living free through Christ.

Derik Griffin Derik is a teacher, preacher and Youth Counsellor for Times Square Church. Since 2012 Derik has served as support liaison for the 100 church partners of Feed New York, an initiative of TSC that underwrites food assistance programs in churches throughout New York City. Derik has travelled around the world evangelising and sharing the powerful testimony of his journey. His story has impacted the lives of many.

Victoria Griffin Victoria has been a worship leader in Times Square Church since 1999. In 2014 Vicki was appointed Elder of TSC. Whether she is praying for someone, counselling, speaking at an outreach or leading worship, Vicki’s heart is to serve God with all that is within her. Vicki and her husband have been married 23 yrs and have 6 children.

There will also be a variety of other speakers at this year’s conference.

Visit www.summerfireconference.com for details.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Deposit

€250 per family (non-transferable / non-refundable). No bookings will be accepted without a deposit attached.

Balance must be paid in FULL by 29th of May. (There will be a penalty of €100 for balances received after this date, imposed by Trabolgan).

Conference Fee

Family €115 / Single €70 to be paid on arrival. Please make all cheques payable to: “Summer Fire”

Arrival & Departure

Accommodation will be available from 5:00pm on day of arrival. Checkout at 10:00am on day of departure. **Please note that details of all members of the party must be listed on the booking form**

FIRE

FIRE ACTS 2:3

APRIL - JUNE 2015 VOX www.summerfireconference.com I www.trabolgan.com

www.drinan.ie

c/o 13 Carrigmore, Carrigaline, Co.Cork Tel: Judith on 086 3923717 / 021 4373480 (anytime) or Lucy-Anne on 021 4273696 (Tues-Fri 9-4pm) Email: summerfire@live.ie

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Summer Fire Conference

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REALITY

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS ev. Steve Stockman persecute us, to be and Fr. Martin peacemakers... When Magill were we love our enemies, we invited to speak demonstrate Jesus’ life, death, on “reconciliation” at the Sinn and resurrection and the Féin Ard Fheis in March. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit. two friends, who work for peace On the island of Ireland, the and reconciliation in Belfast and opposite has been the case!” beyond, were uncompromising The Troubles have been in their calls for Christians to be an obstacle to world mission, peacemakers. VOX Magazine Steve explained, because editor Ruth Garvey-Williams people see Christians as part caught up with Steve a few days of the problem. after his speech to ask about the “We should have been road to reconciliation. With his the evidence of the power of permission, we have also printed Christ at work. We should extracts from the speech (below). have been the peacemakers.

“Twenty-five years God gave me the courage ago, I refused to pray to do what I needed to and read the Scriptures do. We are called to a WE ARE CALLED TO A MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION...WE ARE GOOD AT at my best friend’s ministry of reconciliation.

DISCUSSING, PREACHING, AND QUOTING IT, BUT WE’RE NOT GOOD AT LIVING IT! Through us, grace has to wedding because it was in a Catholic church,” become flesh and move Steve shares, the regret into the neighbourhood! and sadness evident in parts of Belfast. Now in its third year, the We are good at discussing, his voice. “These 25 years have seen a huge festival features prayer events, discussions, preaching, and quoting it, but we’re not change in my life until the point where I music, and arts programmes designed to good at living it!” could speak at the Ard Fheis last week. Why share, celebrate, and connect people from would I not read God’s word anywhere I was across the “four corners” of the city.

EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH given the opportunity to do it?”

“It caught the imagination of a lot of TO THE SINN FÉIN ARD FHEIS That journey has led Steve to a deep people, including politicians, and may friendship with Fr. Martin Magill, who have led to our invitation to the Sinn Fein REV. STEVE: This is the most interesting place spoke alongside him at the Ard Fheis - a conference,” Steve explained.

I’ve ever preached! I am a Presbyterian from friendship that has destroyed stereotypes “For most of my life, I’ve been a passive Ballymena. It is a long way from there to and opened Steve’s eyes to the potential peacemaker. I always believed in peace, but having a priest as one of your dearest friends of working together. “If God’s ministry is I didn’t actively work for peace. God almost and to being on a stage together at the Sinn reconciling all things to himself, then one grabbed me by the throat and dragged me Féin Ard Fheis! of my roles as a follower of Jesus is to be into peacemaking.

Wounds are deep. Pain is raw. Standing involved in the reconciliation of things that “The Scriptures are so clear - if you are here, I can’t help but remember my are broken.” a follower of Jesus - to love our Over a cup of coffee, the two friends enemies, do good to came up with the idea of the “Four Corners those who Festival,” inspiring people to work for peace as they meet one another and visit different

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Assistant Minister whose dad WHEN JESUS TOLD US TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR AND OUR ENEMY, encourage us: “Blessed are the was shot dead when he was peacemakers”. two, and my former intern who THEY WEREN’T NICE SENTIMENTAL PHRASES BUT SUBVERSIVE So what does peacemaking never met his dad, blown up in COMMANDS TO CREATE JUSTICE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY. and reconciliation look like? a bomb. Most of us are dealing It certainly means listening, with our own wounds and really listening, and seeking to pain. We pray that all of us find of words used and actions done. understand the other. To want healing.

Hannah Nelson, the schoolgirl who to be reconciled, each of us needs an open Reconciliation is an uncomfortable out-speeched Barack Obama at the mind and an open heart. conversation, but we believe it is a GodWaterfront, told us prophetically, “I don’t Jesus talks about “going the extra mile”. honouring conversation that we desperately want to live in the past. I want to live for a For us in Northern Ireland, as we get to need to have. Shaping the future through future.” know one another, build new relationships, reconciliation will be messy… It will take Let us all live for all of our children’s and rebuild old ones, we might finally reach time and courage, persistence and patience. future. Let us be uncompromising in our a place on the road where we humanise grace-driven willingness to compromise instead of demonise one another.

FR. MARTIN: We stand here compelled by old entrenched positions to find a new way the words of Jesus: “If you find you have forward.

REV. STEVE: While I was Chaplain at something against your brother or sister, Queens, I took hundreds of students to leave your offering before the altar; go and FR. MARTIN: If we want to live for a future South Africa to build houses on townships. be reconciled.” shaped by reconciliation, we can’t leave this When we asked South Africans the secret We want to live out the challenge of to politicians or to one party alone. “Ní sinn of their reconciliation, there was one those words. We want to play our part féin amháin ach muidne uilig le chéile” (it is recurring word - “Ubuntu”. It means, in helping people to be reconciled by not ourselves alone but all of us together), “without you, I cannot be fully me.” Nelson overcoming the fear, distrust, and hatred or, in the words of an African proverb: “If Mandela wanted more than a political that still remain from our troubled past. We you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to peace. He was determined to build a have come a long way down our wounded go far, go together.” societal peace. road, but there is still a long way to go. …the churches have an important When Jesus told us to We know that reconciliation comes role to play in the work of reconciliation. love our neighbour and our at a price: the price of scathing criticism The words of Jesus in the Beatitudes enemy, they weren’t nice and even threats, the pain of being judged sentimental phrases but and dismissed as having ulterior motives, subversive commands to but we must pay this price if we wish to create justice, peace, and transform our society. prosperity. Jesus knew that “without me, you REV. STEVE: How can transformation cannot be fully you.” come? I believe the best word in all As we continue the world is “grace”. It is the gem in down this wounded Christianity. Grace means unconditional road, let the love. God loved us and made the first uncomfortable move. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection conversations were about reconciling us to God and continue. With also to one other. Only by grace can Mandela’s ubuntu and relationships be restored. Grace needs to Christ’s grace we believe be more than a favourite word or idea. It we can make the change. needs to be put into action in a generosity Let’s do it together.

Banachti!

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FAITH

PASSIONATE ABOUT THE

Gospel

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OM IRELAND FINDS CREATIVE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS

BY COURTNEY BANKS

When my husband and I “blew in” to bullying, purity, stress-management, Arts team is sharing the Gospel through Ireland to join OM Ireland, we thought self-image, and depression. Our goal is drama and music. We’ve had the we knew what we were getting into. We to maintain a dialogue with these young incredible opportunity to record and wanted to be a part of God’s plan to build people rather than dictate to them. This broadcast our Christmas show with RTE. His Church in Ireland. We knew that plan way, we can have open ears to hear what Our newly developed film department is would involve sharing the Gospel and they are thinking and feeling. If we have looking to get into the short film scene to encouraging the Church to continue and a relationship with a church in the same see how we can spread the Gospel both grow in its evangelistic work. town as the school, we will occasionally nationally and internationally.

We just didn’t know the amount of have pastors and ministry workers from We offer training in evangelism time and energy this organisation puts that church join us. We’ll often bring the for churches and individuals, either at into evangelism! These crazy people (with bus with us so that if students want to talk our headquarters in Co. Roscommon whom we now are counted) are passionate with us, they have a safe environment to or at churches and meeting centres. about the Gospel and sharing that good do so.

Ludie Creech, our Director of Church news with as many as possible. I suppose Our Big Red Bus Team is also invited Partnership, said, “We desire to see every it makes sense. The Gospel is such good by churches to do Kid’s Clubs in the Christian equipped to articulate and share news - through faith in Jesus’ finished church members’ estates. This is where the Gospel in their sphere of influence.” work on the cross, we are accepted by God the bus gets really fun. We roll out faceWe count it a bittersweet blessing and saved from eternal punishment for painting, balloon-making, song-singing when we have partnered with a church our sin! and it grows and develops to As our National Director, a point that it no longer needs Alastair Kerr says, “Evangelism our partnership. Or, as our is the core of what OM Ireland WE DESIRE TO SEE EVERY CHRISTIAN EQUIPPED TO ARTICULATE Programme Director, Junior is all about.” This wonderful DeLarina, put it, “when our AND SHARE THE GOSPEL IN THEIR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.” obsession is reflected in our partnership is no longer three-fold purpose: We exist necessary but welcomed.” to reach the lost and to equip One beautiful example and mobilise the Church. is our ongoing friendship One of our favourite tools is The silliness. We perform puppet shows and with Letterkenny Christian Fellowship Big Red Bus. This former Dublin City songs with biblical lessons and give kidin Co. Donegal. In our early days as double-decker bus has been refurbished friendly Gospel presentations. We also an organisation, we partnered closely as a mobile ministry centre. Tables were help the children make crafts that they can with this church. God developed their installed on the main deck, and the upper take home to remind them of the lessons. congregation to the point that they had deck has been made into a presentation It’s great fun, and we love seeing families the volunteers and resources to continue area for multimedia and puppet shows. enjoy themselves in a safe environment. their work without our partnership.

The beauty of the bus is truly seen in its As an organisation and as individuals, We love partnering with churches and versatility. we take every possible action to make sure are overjoyed at the opportunities for Whenever possible, we work children are safe during our programmes. fellowship and service. alongside local churches in reaching Every person on our team has undergone In everything we do, OM Ireland seeks their communities. We offer the Bus as Garda clearance checks and child to communicate: We love Jesus. We love a welcoming place for people to drop in protection training.

Ireland. And we believe the Gospel is the for a free cup of tea and a chat. We’ve had We love taking the bus out for other power of God that is still saving people. some amazing opportunities to encourage special events, too. We’ve been able to If you would like to contact us or learn people. During these events, we’ll often participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade more, visit our website at www.ie.om.org. have music and drama presentations to in Athlone. The bus even took a trip last draw attention and share the Gospel. year to Scotland for the Commonwealth Our youth team often receives Games! The bus is a versatile and mobile Courtney Banks is a recent requests to come into primary and ministry tool that has many possible transplant from California secondary schools to give talks or host applications. The very sight of the bus is a to Ireland. While on staff spiritual retreats. These occasions are proclamation of the Gospel, as the words with OM, she has worked a wonderful chance to dialogue with of John 14:6 are printed on the sides and as a member of the Big Red students about their lives and concerns, back: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way, the Bus Team and is now the coordinator for and, whenever possible, give guidance and Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the OM’s short-term teams. She and her husband advice from the Christian perspective.

Father except through me.’”

Tim love living in Ireland’s cooler climate, We talk with the students about Our growing and talented Creative eating Mexican food, and going to the beach.

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Internship Program You want to …make a lasting difference? …use your skills & experiences? …serve the Lord with all your heart?

Become a significant part of the largest Christian media organization worldwide. We reach people for Christ in over 160 countries and speak 230 languages through radio, television and the internet.

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VOX MAGAZINE

CAMPING FOR LIFE

CHRISTIAN CAMP PROVIDES A FRESH START FOR TEENAGE BOYS et against the beautiful backdrop of the Comeragh Mountains in Waterford, a Christian camp is offering help and support for boys who are struggling at home or school. Comeragh Wilderness Camp (CWC) is based on an American model of “therapeutic camping” with a proven track record of seeing long-term transformation in the lives of young people.

Located near Rathgormack, Co. Waterford, the camp offers a positive alternative to the traditional harsh environment of a “boot camp”. Instead, the approach is “child-led” and gentle, combining structure and routine with community living and a holistic lifestyle.

Regulated by the Child and Family Agency (TULSA), CWC takes boys aged 12 to 15 years who are experiencing conflict and dysfunction at home, refusing to attend school, or have serious behavioural problems. Most families find the centre by word of mouth or on the website, and participation is by private referral.

Parents are asked to make a contribution to the cost. The camp, a registered Irish charity, is also funded by donations, and finance is not the deciding factor as to whether a young person can attend.

Wesley Sensenig, who runs the programme, explained, “CWC is a forest village where young people live as a group with two leaders, called ‘chiefs’. They work to build their own tents, chop firewood, plan and cook their own meals, and develop their

S

own programme of activities. The aim is not be comfortable and warm without living in ‘roughing it’ but rather learning how to live luxury,” Wesley said. and work with others.”

Often, a boy’s emotional problems have “We seek to address the challenges caused issues with mainstream education. and dysfunctions that have caused the The academic value of the programme has lads’ problems,” Wesley said. “We build been assessed and approved by the National resilience so they can cope better when Education Welfare Board. they return home. In some boys, we see a Although not attending school, the dramatic change.” young people are constantly learning As a Christian camp, CWC is upfront through all the activities. Studying nature is about its ethos. Young people are required to a vital part of the camp as the boys discover attend a short, non-denominational service animal tracks, find edible mushrooms, each Sunday. However, there is no pressure and much more. Canoeing, hiking, and for them to participate verbally or to make backpacking trips are also organised by the any religious commitment. young people as part of their programme.

“We want to share our faith, but it “We are not preparing them for Junior is more about how we live and the way or Leaving Certificates, but we are preparing we love the young person,” Wesley them for life,” Wesley added. said. “Inevitably, they ask us about why Find out more about CWC at we do what we do, but this is not about www.wilderness.ie. proselytising.”

CWC operates a strict child protection policy, and all staff WE ARE NOT PREPARING THEM FOR JUNIOR OR LEAVING members are Garda vetted. The camp is CERTIFICATES, BUT WE ARE PREPARING THEM FOR LIFE. inspected regularly to ensure the highest possible standards of care and education for the boys.

“Although we are in the woods, we are not in the wild, and the living is not harsh. The lads can

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We’re all going on a...

SUMMER CONFERENCE!

Are you thinking of attending a Christian conference this summer? VOX brings you a roundup of the top Christian conferences and festivals happening around the island of Ireland with our new online guide. With Bible teaching, worship, children’s and youth programmes, and more, there is plenty to choose from. Find out more about Summer Fire, Summer Madness, New Wine, and New Horizon with information and photos to whet your appetite. And if you can’t attend, VOX will be LIVE at many of these events, bringing you all the news as it happens! Visit www.vox.ie.

Save the date:

FORUM ON EVANGELISM On 31 October, Evangelical Alliance Ireland will host a one-day forum in Dublin on the theme of “Evangelism in contemporary Ireland”. The aim will be to explore new forms of evangelistic expression in order to reach a population that is increasingly secular, anti-church, and devoid of any church background. The need for new language and new methods of interfacing with people is one of the major challenges facing the church today.

In addition to a keynote speaker and panel discussion, the day will feature a range of workshops from various practitioners. Full details of venue and programme will be confirmed shortly. If you have suggestions for themes that should be explored at the forum, or wish to recommend examples of effective evangelistic practitioners, please forward details to Tony O’Connor of EAI at tony@ evangelical.ie.

E R O L P X E noon ive after

ct an intera

MEET...

Christians from countries where persecution is severe

DISCOVER...

Unlock

Your

PRAY...

short presentations throughout the afternoon

in the Prayer Room or at the Prayer Wall

ENJOY... constant supply of tea, coffee and biscuits FIND OUT... how you can make a difference

Dreams

WHERE? Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church

May 22-23

(Lower Glenageary Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin)

Ulysses House, Foley St., Dublin 1 www.dreams2015.net events.newlife.ie

WHEN? Saturday 18 April 2pm-5pm

(come and go whenever you choose)

Dream interpretation class presented by Merry Bruton, an accredited dream counsellor, in association with NewLife Community Church.

Dreams2015dublin

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VOX APRIL - JUNE 2015

087-1760047

CHURCH IN CHAINS PO Box 10447, Glenageary, Co. Dublin T 01-282 5393 E info@churchinchains.ie W www.churchinchains.ie

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

GORDON: BUSINESS AS USUAL

BY RUTH CHIPPERFIELD REVIEWED BY MARK WALSH

“The glory of God is the human person fully alive.”

St. Irenaeus’ evocative statement is often quoted in support of the belief that the flourishing of humankind is a reflection of God’s glory. Human logic might therefore imply that physical or intellectual disability would perhaps limit the extent to which that glory and aliveness is manifest. Anyone tempted to believe such nonsense needs to read this book!

Ruth Chipperfield, the author of Gordon: Business as Usual, does a masterful job in showing how Gordon (her brother), as opposed to being disabled, was rather enabled with the ability to live life with vitality and passion, to love without conditions, and most of all to impact everyone he met with his infectious joy.

Gordon’s love of trains and buses led to him becoming a part of the family of our public transport institutions - as witnessed by testimonials from both current CEOs of Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnrod Éireann.

Bewleys was another institution he loved and where he charmed both staff and customers. He was a stickler for time, as visiting preachers to his church discovered the hard way! One can’t help feeling sympathy for those unfortunate enough to be told to “STOP” when Gordon determined that their time was up!

Older readers will enjoy the nostalgia of reading of bygone times in which many of the stories are set. All ages will thankfully realise that in some regards, things have improved for those with intellectual disability over recent years, even though more could be done.

Much of the book contains Gordon’s own words. No mean writer himself, these reveal his capacity for emotion with such honesty and poignancy that the reader will frequently forget that they are the words of someone society might consider ‘different’.

The book is full of countless humourous accounts of Gordon’s exploits but is no mere sentimental journal. It also depicts the challenges of living with a disability over the past six decades, especially for the families tasked with providing whatever support they can.

Thankfully, Gordon was blessed with an amazing family, and the book also recounts the story of Peacehaven Trust, co-founded by his mother Lydia, and where he now resides among a community that recognises that people with intellectual challenges are perfectly capable of living fully alive, to the glory of God! JUNEVOX 2015 VOX APRIL -APRIL JUNE -2015 41

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New Book!

Who Owns Marriage?

GORDON: Business as Usual Gordon believed himself to be a businessman. He once strode Dublin’s streets, suited and carrying briefcase, umbrella and a copy of The Irish Times.

A conversation among Christians and others that goes beyond the controversy of the referendum and looks at the big questions of marriage, identity, and how people in a secular society can be true to their beliefs while still respecting each other.

Price: €14.99 (+ postage €2.25/€4.80 Rest of the World) Discount available for bookshop bulk purchases.

Available as a paperback from www.evangelical.ie or as a Kindle e-book from www.amazon.ie

For more information, contact Ruth Chipperfield Email: rchipperfield@hotmail.com Mob: 087 9074740

Gordon was a regular, well-known and loved passenger on public transport, where the staff were his friends.

“An entertaining, inspiring and fearless lifetime portrait of Gordon, the author’s disabled brother, currently living in sheltered housing.”

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VOX APRIL - JUNE 2015

James Garza T/A Trillium Financial Services is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

Carry The Fire

by WorshipMob

Reviewed by UCB Ireland Radio’s Vincent Hughes.

Visit www.ucbirelandradio.com to listen live online.

Those who listen to UCB Ireland Radio will know that worship music features quite prominently in our playlists. Keeping the station sound fresh, however, is difficult, given the shortage of new material. Enter WorshipMob - a collaboration of singers and musicians from 30 churches in Colorado Springs in the USA. This collective has flooded YouTube with elaborate videos of their live cover versions of the best praise and worship anthems around. In most cases, the covers are superior to the original recordings, and their videos draw the viewer into their worship gatherings.

Such is the huge popularity of the videos that there were some copyright challenges to the project, resulting in record company Integrity Music stepping in and signing the WorshipMob. Their first album, Carry the Fire, has just been released. The big question was whether they could capture the exciting, live, spontaneous experience that has caused their YouTube videos to go viral. The answer is a resounding “yes”.

Carry The Fire expresses the joy, freedom, and empowerment of life infused by the Spirit of God in 12 soaring selections, including Our Father Has Won, You Make Me Brave, and More and More of You. WorshipMob have set a standard and put down a marker for future recordings of this type. Carry The Fire is available from iTunes, Amazon, and all MP3 download outlets. Grab a copy!

Oh, and while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out their YouTube channel. A word of warning, though: this is seriously addictive music!

My Hope

Thrive

My Hope is an album of songs inspired by the message and mission of Billy Graham. It features 12 brandnew recordings from the biggest names in Christian music. The CD is being released in conjunction with Dr. Graham’s new book, The Reason for My Hope: Salvation.

Billy Graham has preached the same simple message for over 70 years, and each of the songs reiterates this message. With music from Newsboys, Kari Jobe, Michael W. Smith, Darlene Zschech, and Amy Grant, to mention but a few, this album is almost like the dream team of Christian recording artists. I loved each song, but for me, there are two standout performances.

Lacey Sturm delivers a song here called The Reason. It is one of the best new songs I have heard in a long time. So Loved by Matthew West will have you punching the air and gasping at the enormity of the message it delivers.

Good news for fans of Casting Crowns! Lead singer Mark Hall is now recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous kidney. The other good news is that the band’s latest album, Thrive, is now entering its 60th week in the Christian music charts and is still a must-have album in 2015.

The album opens with the title track, and this powerful opener sets the tone for an album that is bursting at the seams. It could be quite some time before we get to see the band on stage again; Mark’s recovery is going to be slow, but there is more than enough in this collection to sustain Casting Crowns fans for the next few months and plenty to win new listeners. Thrive is available on all download platforms and from Christian music stores worldwide.

Various Artists

by Casting Crowns

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EVENTS

VOX MAGAZINE

Events Calendar What’s happening where and when July Sligo 15 12 - 17 July Sligo www.newwineireland.org

May Unlock your Dreams 22 - 23 May Ulysses House, Dublin 1 www.dreams2015.net www.events.newlife.ie

April Amazing Grace Festival 8 - 12 April Buncrana, Co. Donegal www.amazinggrace.ie

June Essential 2015 15 - 16 June 2015 St. Catherine’s Church, Dublin 8 www.irishchurchmissions.ie/ essential2015

Explore Church in Chains Saturday, 18 April, 2 - 5pm Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church www.churchinchains.ie Christian Dance Fellowship of Ireland Conference 24 - 26 April Newry, Co. Down www.cdfi.weebly.com

Summer Fire Conference 26 June - 3 July Trabolgan, Co. Cork www.summerfireconference.com

August New Horizon 1 - 7 August 2015 University of Ulster, Colraine www.newhorizon.org.uk Leading for Life 27 - 29 August Berlin, Germany www.leadingforlife.org Visit www.vox.ie/events for a more up-to-date event listing.

(You can also inform us about your upcoming event there.)

Mount Zion go dtaga do ríocht . . . your kingdom come

Compassion Projects 2015 DIY & Gardening Projects Welcome Packs for Women’s Refuge Want to get involved? liffeyvalleyvineyard.ie

Volunteers welcome.

mob: 086 3034178

Christian Poetry Competition 2015 €10/ £8 per poem; €15/ £12 for 2 poems; €20/ £15 for 3 poems (Max) Fee with entry; Cheque or Postal Order payable to Irish Christian Writers’ Fellowship Max 40 lines — on one side of an A4 Page Name, Address & Poem Titles on separate sheet; Must be author’s own work Closing Date: Last Post on 30th June; Winners Notified by 1st September

Small booklet of about 50 Best Entries will be Published One Free Copy sent to each published entrant; Extra Copies €5 (Incl. P&P) All entries may be submitted by us to United Christian Broadcasters for consideration for “The Candlestick” Radio Programme Entrants’ contact details will be kept on file for administrative purposes only.

Prizes: €100; €50; €25 book tokens Please send entries and requests for booklets to: Joan Bradley, Hon Sec, ICWF, Unit 2C, Iveagh Trust, Kevin St, Dublin 8 Tel. 01-4549237; e-mail: amjbradley@ppsg.ie; www.irishchristianwriters.org

VOX APRIL - JUNE 2015

Reservations Essential.

Call Brid or Jerry on 0873138957 Fáilte roimh gach einne!

Like us on Facebook

Irish Christian Writers’ Fellowship

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A Christian Bed and Breakfast on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, Ireland.

Are YOU our next Pastor?

The Nazarene Community Church, Greystones is currently looking for a new pastor. This church is eager to find someone who can lead them into God’s future for their congregation.

Interested in learning more, please contact Stephen Morley, District Superintendent, Church of the Nazarene (Ireland) at revsjm@me.com for more information.

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

BY MARK WALSH

The Unbelievable Gospel

By Jonathan Dodson

“How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?” No, this isn’t a quote from an evangelist, but rather from American magician Penn Jillette. An unashamed atheist, Penn respects evangelists because he recognises the inconsistency in claiming to believe the Gospel and yet not seeking to share the message.

Unfortunately, when Christians today are accused of “evangelical zeal,” it’s often for being judgemental rather than for sharing good news. Part of the problem is often that Christians aren’t truly convinced their message is good news.

In his fascinating new book, The Unbelievable Gospel, Jonathan Dodson analyses why Christians are not more passionate about sharing their faith and offers practical suggestions.

Rather than simply rehearsing a presentation, he encourages us to listen to our friends’ and neighbours’ stories and consider how the Gospel story addresses their longings. He provides examples of ‘Gospel metaphors’ that can help us contextualise the message in a compelling way. I found these stimulated my own imagination and triggered ideas of how to better communicate with others.

Dodson wisely distinguishes between “proselytising” – converting someone – and true evangelism, which reasons around Jesus Christ and how he truly satisfies the longings of our hearts.

Part of the book’s potency lies in how the author paints such a glorious picture of the Gospel’s power to change lives that one is compelled to speak out. I’ve read countless books on evangelism and, in terms of relevance, this is by far the best I’ve come across.

Stories we Tell

By Mike Cosper

It’s easy to overcomplicate the practice of sharing the Christian message. But whilst it may require courage and faith, the process is in many respects a simple one. Jesus didn’t complicate it. He spent his time telling stories, often while sharing a meal or attending a party.

The social aspect comes naturally to most Irish people, but Christians today could be justly criticised for failing to frame the Gospel using illustrations from contemporary culture to engage our listeners.

Mike Cosper clearly agrees, and in Stories we Tell has penned an excellent introduction for anyone keen to learn how to evaluate the narratives in pop culture. This is not a simplistic “how to find the Christ-figure in the latest Hollywood blockbuster,” but rather a wellthought-out primer on how to think theologically about TV shows and movies so that we can effectively engage with them for the sake of God’s mission. He encourages us to move beyond mere consumption of entertainment and listen to the underlying themes. It may change how we view such media and hopefully how we converse with our neighbours.

Look and Live

By Matt Papa

The Puritans often wrote about “gazing upon Christ”. Such a concept appears impractical to our modern mindsets. But let’s be honest; if we’re not focused on Christ, we’re focused on something else – which might explain the shallowness and impotency of much of what passes for Christianity these days.

Some readers may know Matt Papa for his songwriting and worship leading talent, but in Look and Live he demonstrates equal talent as a writer.

The book suggests that looking at Jesus is the answer to many of our problems.

And no – this is not another ‘formula’ for success. Instead, the author encourages us to heed John the Baptist’s command to “behold the Lamb of God . . .” and paints an irresistibly enticing picture of what may happen as a result. Papa contends that we need a vision of the majestic glory of God that sweeps us off our feet.

The book is theologically rich yet immensely readable and practical. If we want to be enflamed with passion for God, we need to move closer to the fire.

One of Papa’s many profound nuggets of wisdom is, “We worship our way into sin. We must worship our way out”. In other words, realising the extent to which Christ alone satisfies our longings quenches the power and attraction of counterfeit satisfaction.

This may not be an easy read. Matt correctly notes that Jesus “…demands everything” and that “the glory of God is the reason why every person in the Bible who encounters God nearly falls dead.” But don’t be put off – it may be challenging but it could also be transformative. When we behold God’s glory, we lose our pride and sense of self-importance - the vision is both soulthrilling and sin-destroying.

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VOX PS

SINGING THE BLUES

BY SEÁN MULLAN

here was a bit of a rumpus in With all that history, why the excitement were being massacred; women were being YouTube land recently following over Stephen Fry’s complaint against things raped; children were being kidnapped into Stephen Fry’s eloquent riff on like bone cancer in children? Could it be slavery; and villages were being burned. what he would say to It was a nightmare situation that, a God he doesn’t believe in, if it sadly, still goes on. turned out that he was mistaken I have never, before or since, HAS THE CHURCH, AT LEAST IN THE MORE AFFLUENT PARTS heard anything like it. Beginning - Stephen that is, not God! His reply became a minor YouTube quite calmly, the man began to OF THE WORLD, LOST THE ART OF SINGING THE BLUES? sensation, with 5 million hits. list his complaints to God. Before Perspective matters here: a video long he was in tears and soon he entitled “Charlie bit my finger” was literally roaring at God. By the topped 800 million hits. because the church in the West has lost the end, he was so hoarse he was barely audible.

As I listened to his complaints, I realised art of complaining at God and now leave The whole thing was so gut-wrenchingly I’d heard it all - or read it all before. You that to atheists like Stephen Fry? Has the authentic that none of us present could have don’t have to be an avid reader of the ancient church become extremist at accentuating the held to the idea that he was just speaking Jewish and Christian Scriptures to know positive? to himself - that no one “out there” was that they are pretty loaded with complaints When is the last time you who are listening. That he had problems with God against God. churchgoers heard a good moaning-Psalm was evident - and that God was listening was Job is one of the most ancient and the being read out? Songs in the key of “happy” even more evident. most famous. And, in fairness, he had plenty seem the norm. Has the church, at least in Stephen Fry and the Sudanese to complain about. Then there are some the more affluent parts of the world, lost the clergyman have a couple of things in Psalms, which are basically just one long art of singing the blues? common. First there’s the power of their complaints. They are right; there are terrible things going on. But on top of that, they both share a conviction that life’s not meant to be like this. Whether it’s children with bone cancer or children being kidnapped, they believe that it shouldn’t be like that.

They share the conviction that somehow life is meant to be different.

Why is that? I’m guessing the clergyman would say that it’s because we are made for something better - and that, despite all that’s gone on, he still believes that it’s on the way. What Stephen Fry would answer, I can’t guess. But the question remains: why do atheists and theists alike believe that the life we have is not the life that should be?

And why, in the face of all the pain, do we go on believing we were meant for something better?

T

complaint from start to finish. Add in a few of the prophets who were equally eloquent.

And finally, look at Jesus, who is reported to have cried aloud in complaint at God just before he died.

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This question reminded me of a service I attended, years ago, when a visiting clergyman from Sudan was asked to lead prayer for his own country. It was a time of civil war in Southern Sudan. Thousands

Seán Mullan has been working in church leadership for many years. He has developed a new project in Dublin City Centre called “Third Space”.

“

TRANS FORM ING

IBI has been the perfect environment to learn and grow, not only in my ministry life but also my personal life and faith too. The primary areas where I’ve experienced change is my confidence in preparing and delivering Bible studies. In addition to that, I’ve yet to finish a day in IBI without learning something valuable that I can take away and apply to my life. My hope for the future is that the Lord will be able to use me in a greater way wherever that may be, as a result of studying in IBI.

Gary Curran, Navan.

“

Head, Heart and Hands www.ibi.ie

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Be part of something

BEAUTIFUL Give a regular gift and watch hope grow month by month

Call us now on 01 878 3200 or visit www.tearfund.ie

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