VOX July 2016

ISSUE 31 / JULY - SEPTEMBER 2016

FREE

FINDING FAITH TOUR 2016 BEING CHURCH A TASTE OF WHAT GOD IS DOING AROUND IRELAND

MY STORY FAITH IN REAL LIFE

SERVING THE

LOVE OF JESUS ON A PLATE

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ISRAEL TOUR Oct 24th - Nov 2nd 2016 Deluxe Hotels, Jerusalem, Tiberias Tel-Aviv & Dead Sea Half Board, Full Touring Land Only $1,499 p.p. (€1,315 approx. / £1,035 approx.)

Mt. of Olives Mt. Zion Upper Room Western Wall Temple Mount Jerusalem Joppa Tiberias Sea of Galilee Mt. Beatitudes Capernaum Jordan River Qumran Caesarea Tel - Aviv & More

Dear Friends, We invite you to join us for a “once in a lifetime experience” on our 46th Bible Study Tour of Israel. The entire Bible becomes a living reality as we visit authentic places where Jesus walked, taught and lived His earthly life. We also see in a clearer manner the context of His death, resurrection & return.

Our visit will be a time to show solidarity with the people of Israel and understand their special calling in the context of the Bible.

To join the tour, please contact us by e-mail to receive a registration form with details of payment to IGT Tours Jerusalem. Deposits are due immediately.

Looking forward to having you with us.

Sincerely in His love and service, Paul & Nuala O’Higgins paulandnuala@comcast.net

RECONCILIATION OUTREACH

For further details, itinerary etc. e-mail us or visit www.reconciliationoutreach.net 02

VOX JULY - SEP 2016

EDITORIAL

Are you hungry? f you’re on Facebook, you’ll have noticed that one of this year’s trends is to post speededup videos of food preparation. Someone prepares a delicious recipe in front of our eyes and, in a few seconds, we see the finished masterpiece temptingly displayed on a plate. As an enthusiastic cook, I’ve ended up watching dozens of these videos and they inevitably make me feel hungry!

Hunger was an emerging theme during this year’s Finding Faith Tour. I met so many people who were hungry for God; people who are not satisfied simply with showing up at church once a week but who want to know Jesus, deeply and intimately.

I

Stay connected... ...with what’s happening around Ireland. VOX magazine brings you all the news and events through our magazine, website and social media. Don’t miss out!

www.vox.ie

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THEY WILL BE FILLED. It is exciting to see spiritual hunger in new Christians but somehow it is even more inspiring to see that same hunger in those who have followed God for years.

In this year’s Finding Faith Tour, I travelled 1,167 miles (1,878 kilometres) through 26 counties on this island and interviewed a total of 39 people! As always it was encouraging and moving to hear what God is doing in people’s lives and churches.

This issue of VOX magazine is packed full of the stories I gathered (My Story: Faith in Real Life page 12 and Jesus and Me page 20). You can also catch a glimpse of what God is doing in different churches across the island (Being Church page 30).

Food is the theme of a beautiful story from Arklow where a church is providing a community meal every week (Serving the Love of Jesus on a Plate page 24).

So grab a cuppa, put your feet up and enjoy reading through the stories… and as you do, ask yourself… Am I hungry for God?

MCI FUNDRAISING TREKS TO THE

HIMALAYAS 2016 Everest Base Camp Trek

Himalayan Trail Trek

29th Sept- 17th Oct

20th - 30th Oct 2016

Participation Fee: €2,250 / £1,650 Fundraising Target: €1500 / £1350

Participation Fee: €1650 / £1200 Fundraising Target: €1500 / £1350

Join us for the trip of a lifetime!

Please contact beth@irishmethodist.org for all the information you need!

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

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NEPAL: IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2016, ISSUE 31 ISSN: 2009-2253 P UBLISHE R The VOX Team EDI TOR Ruth Garvey-Williams editor@vox.ie LAYOUT & A DV E RT I S I N G Jonny Lindsay jonny@vox.ie OP ERATION S Tara Byrne tara@vox.ie LAYOUT Krista Kirby P ROJEC T A DV I S OR Tom Slattery SUBSC RIP T I ON S Ireland & UK: Min. €8 for four issues Overseas: Min. €17 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 Ross Print, Greystones, Co. Wicklow VOX magazine is a quarterly publication, brought to you by a passionate team of volunteers.

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FINDING FAITH: MY STORY

DERRY’S NEW BAND “I AM”

CONTENTS 12 24 30 17 18 20 23 26 28 36 40 29 06 08 09 16

COVER STORIES Finding Faith: My Story - faith in real life Serving the Love of Jesus on a Plate Finding Faith: Being Church - a taste of what God is doing around Ireland

FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS Finding Faith: Making Disciples - getting back to basics All Aboard the Gospel Railway - illustrating Biblical truth with miniature trains.

Finding Faith: Jesus and Me - “We can do so many things but so often Jesus is left on the side.”

Finding Faith: Promise Fulfilled - “We need to be God-chasers.”

Discover your passion for the Bible - introducing Precept Ministries.

Rebuilding Broken Lives - a centre for hope and restoration in Tipperary.

Finding Faith: Legacy - lasting fruit not “quick fixes”.

Passionate about Worship - Derry’s new band “I AM” is singing for God’s glory

VOX VIEWS Environmental Law - lessons from five ecological disasters REGULAR FEATURES VOX: Shorts

19 VOX: World News 43 Your VOX: Letters to the editor 44 The Soapboxer 46

Confessions of a Feint Saint Reviews Event Listing VOX: PS with Seán Mullan

Cover image: George Griffin / photographer / videographer / www.georgebgriffin.com

OUR PARTNERS: TM

IRELAND 04

VOX JULY - SEP 2016

PREPARING THE

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! A Call for a Holy, Solemn Assembly

The Voice of My Beloved A Call to the Nations Ministry

A call to the Body of Christ, who are called by His name, to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, that we can hear from heaven, so the Lord can forgive our sins and heal our land.

Please join us for a day of worship and teachings of the Word of God, to help understand the season that we, His Church, are in today. We will end with a time of corporate prayer for our nation.

Saturday, August 13, 2016 9:30 A.M. – 6:30 P.M. Killarney

See website for location details.

For more information:

thevoiceofmybeloved.com | (083) 848 1995 | Email: info@thevoiceofmybeloved.com JULY - SEP 2016 VOX

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VOX SHORTS

A cry for help!

Over 12,000 women and children called the Women’s Aid free helpline to report more than 22,000 incidents of domestic abuse last year. Margaret Martin, Director of Women’s Aid, outlined some of the abuse that is taking place in Ireland, “In 2015, women told us that they were kept prisoner in their own homes, cut with knives, stabbed, spat on, punched, slapped, kicked, held down and strangled and beaten with household items. Many women were beaten during pregnancy.”

The Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline (1800 341 900) continues to operate and became a 24/7 service in January 2016 even

though government funding was cut by 20% last year.

Ms Martin said, “In the first few months of going 24/7, we answered 1,400 calls in our ‘out of hours’ night service. Think of all those voices, desperate for help in the middle of the night and the early morning. Our resources were over-stretched before we suffered funding cuts. However, we are determined to keep going. Women experiencing domestic abuse are in a bleak place and it is difficult to find a way out. But we know that there is hope and Women’s Aid is here to help.”

Find out more at www.womensaid.ie.

South African Evangelist to speak in Kilkenny

A South African farmer and evangelist who has spoken to gatherings of up to 200,000 people will speak at The Hub, Cillin Hill in Kilkenny on August 24.

This is a unique non-denominational event and all are welcome to attend.

As a farmer, displaced from his native land of Zambia by both racial and political unrest, Angus Buchan moved his family to South Africa for a better life.

His first book, also a film, Faith Like Potatoes, tells how God transformed his life.

It descibes his journey of faith through deeply personal and family challenges.

Buchan does not financially benefit from his ministry, which he funds from his farming activities. He says that generations of people in Africa have been blessed by the “good seed” that was planted by Irish missionaries over the centuries.

Organising committee member, Kilkenny farmer and businessman Robert Harper, is excited about the event. He said, “Angus is an ordinary Christian man who God has used mightily in sharing His word around the world. Angus is coming to Ireland to share about Jesus who transforms our lives and communities when we turn to Him.” This free event is sponsored and supported by Christians in Ireland from a number of denominations. Only 1,600 seats are available so early booking is advised online at www.togetherforireland.com.

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VOX JULY - SEP 2016

Training for Children’s Ministry

CEF Ireland (Child Evangelism Fellowship) is holding a Children’s Ministry Leadership Course suitable for Sunday School teachers or anyone involved in children’s ministry. The course will equip participants in Gospel-centred children’s ministry and to help Christian children to grow in their faith. This is a 12-week course in two parts. The first half is residential, running from 29 October – 9 December 2016 in Kilkeel, Co Down. For more information go to www.cefireland.com/ what-we-do/training.

VOX MAGAZINE

Who’s who? - a new census of evangelicals

Evangelical Alliance of Ireland has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive census of the Irish evangelical community in 2016.

The task of compiling information and statistics on the scale and spread of evangelicals in Ireland has historically been difficult. Within evangelicalism there are various other “identifiers” so people often describe themselves using other terms such as Pentecostal or Reformed, etc. Many evangelicals are members of established denominations and are recorded as such under the national census and others who are “evangelical” in their beliefs and outlook do not self-identify as evangelicals for various reasons.

“There is an urgent need for a dedicated team to devote the time and resources necessary to compile an accurate profile,” explained EAI National Director Nick Park. “This information will be of benefit to any organisation wishing to connect with the evangelical community, including the media, charities and mission agencies that serve the church.”

If you have any comments or suggestions about the census or would like to offer your help, please contact office@evangelical.ie.

VOX LIVE Blog Christian Conferences direct to your phone or desktop

VOX magazine will be LIVE at the New Wine and New Horizon Christian Conferences this summer. If you can’t make it along, why not check out the news including summaries from the main sessions on our blog at www.vox. ie/vox-blog/ or follow us on Twitter (@ vox_ie) and Facebook for photos and quotes from keynote speakers including Peter Grieg, Greg Venables, Trevor Morrow, Scott McKnight, Gavin Calver and Danielle Strickland.

Worship Conference for Belfast

New Irish Arts and Getty Music have announced a one-day worship conference for church leaders and musicians on Saturday 10 September (9.30am - 4pm) at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. Featuring Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend, Jonathan Rea, Bishop Harold Millar, Rev. David Bruce and the Getty Music band, the interactive “Facing a Task Unfinished” conference aims to help build church congregational singing.

Seminar speakers will cover a range of topics including songwriting, singing and leading, instrumental performance and improvisation and music for children. Tickets cost £30 per person (Group rate: 10 tickets for £200). Book online at www.waterfront.co.uk.

Online Courses a Hit at IBI

The Irish Bible Institute’s new online courses have proved popular during the 2015 - 2016 academic year with “Christian Caring” and “St. Patrick: The Man and the Myth” attracting the most students. A range of theology and applied theology subects are offered online with each course taking an average of four weeks and costing between €30 and €70 per course. Students can work towards the IBI Foundation Award by completing eight short courses with a short reflective assignment at the end of each course.

One student commented, “Thank you IBI for this tremendous opportunity of learning at my own pace and with professional support!”

Visit www.ibi.ie for details of up-coming courses or to sign up.

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WORLD NEWS

NEPAL: IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

Fifteen months ago our television screens were full of the earthquake in Nepal and its devastating effects – almost 9,000 dead, thousands more injured and 3.5 million left homeless.

Despite the devastation, the international and national relief efforts effectively battled their way through impossible mountain terrain to reach the injured, bringing badly needed immediate relief to millions sleeping in the open, afraid to go back indoors.

And now Nepal is trying to get back on its feet.

The international aid agencies have left, the media has moved on and the world’s attention is on other places – but Team Hope’s local partners are still there.

Abraham Khan and his team were living in the area where the earthquake struck. It was ‘his people’, his friends and neighbours that were so badly affected.

Because they were already in the area, supported by Team Hope’s immediate release of funding they were able to act quickly.

What started as supplying blankets, shelter, food and household items has now developed into a longer term care and concern for the people. Now it’s helping to get lives back together through counselling, prayer, education and healthcare.

“This is how we work – always through local people,” shared Team Hope’s Executive Director, Niall Barry.

“If disaster strikes, local people are there on the ground and remain there after the world’s media has moved on.

We’re there, through people like Abraham, for the long haul, looking to see lives restored and transformed.”

To find out more or to donate to the work, contact info@teamhope.ie or visit the website at www. teamhope.ie.

GROWING SPIRITUAL HUNGER ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST

Christian broadcaster SAT-7 has seen its viewer responses treble in the last five years. From an average of 270 responses in 2010, there are now over 800 calls, emails and social media contacts a day from people in the Middle East and North Africa.

SAT-7, which made its first broadcast on May 31, 20 years ago, now reaches 15 million people through programmes in Arabic, Farsi (Persian) and Turkish.

These satellite TV broadcasts encourage isolated and persecuted believers and introduce the Gospel to people who have never heard it before. Find out more on www.sat7uk.org.

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VOX JULY - SEP 2016

SYRIA - FIVE REASONS FOR HOPE FROM TEARFUND

In half a decade, Syria’s war has sparked one of the greatest humanitarian emergencies of a generation, and the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. More than 250,000 people have been killed.

An average of 50 Syrian families have fled their homes every hour of every day since 2011. And yet, where the darkness is darkest, the light shines the brightest. #1: THE REMARKABLE PEOPLE OF SYRIA Issan and Ali share a single tarpaulin-walled room with their two grandchildren. But, far from grumbling, Issan repeatedly thanks God. ‘We have this tent, which is more than we can ask for,’ says Issan. #2: LOCAL AID PARTNERS Amina remembers the childhood trauma of watching a Syrian sniper shoot two of her neighbours when Syrian forces occupied Lebanon. Yet, when their former enemies started pouring into their country in desperate need, she and her husband knew they had to put their faith into action.

Today, supported by Tearfund, they run a school for Syrian refugee children. #3: THE COURAGE OF THE SYRIAN CHURCH In some of the most dangerous areas, churches have become centres for aid where conventional agencies are unable to get through. “People see the churches as a refuge,” says Raya. “Churches are filled in times of disaster, because people are clinging to God. They need both physical and spiritual help.” #4: THE NEXT GENERATION ‘I want to be an engineer,’ says Ahmad aged 13. ‘I would love to build a lot of things. There are a lot of things missing, like hospitals, banks, houses and schools.’ Ahmad is one of countless Syrian children who are irrepressible in their zest for life and their hope for a brighter future. #5: YOU! ‘I would like to say thank you to all of you who support us,’ says Zeina, a mother of six in Lebanon. ‘If you didn’t help us with this food, we would be in a bad situation right now.’

Faith Like...

Angus Buchan sharing the ‘Good News’ with Ireland

Come and listen to a Blessed Christian speaker Angus Buchan at the Hub in Kilkenny and be inspired by his encouraging words. Angus is a straight talking, tough South African Farmer who is still involved with his sons running their family farm. God has used him mightily, as he is able to communicate with ordinary people and loves to preach the good news of Jesus.

this is a free event so please book your tickets online @ www.togetherforireland.com or contact any of the persons below.

Sponsored and supported by Christians in Ireland from Multiple denominations.

The Hub, Kilkenny 6.45pm Wednesday

24 August 2016 ContaCt: Geraldine e: ger.tallent@gmail.com t: 086 257 5124 Robert JULYt:-087 SEP 2016 VOX 0507 09 e: cobblershill@gmail.com 222

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

Dementia-friendly churches I have only now had the chance to read your October issue and your piece on the church and dementia. I am a 25-year-old registered nurse currently working in a charity-run nursing home in South Dublin. Last year, after much prayer, I decided to undertake a Masters course in Dementia Care.

The number of persons experiencing dementia in Ireland is growing and I felt God wanted me to play a part in showing His love to those with dementia and to their families. I have completed my Grad Dip in Dementia Care and have one more year to go to complete my full Masters course.

I truly believe there is a place for those with dementia in the local church. I have had personal experience of how people with dementia, who

THE FUTURE OF OUR PAST

I read with anticipation and a degree of disquiet that thought-provoking article by Rev. Dr. Trevor Morrow, a wonderful minister I respect and admire.

The Eden that we all long for, God’s kingdom on earth, seems further away than ever when we look at the chaotic global picture, a world in turmoil and distress, where unimaginable pain and suffering are experienced by so many.

In The Future of Our Past, there was one reference I found puzzling and I have to disagree with our eminent scholar although I understand and concur with the essence of what he is saying. In Acts 1:6-7 when Jesus met His disciples after the resurrection they asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore

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cannot communicate verbally, can still recite passages of scripture or even sing hymns. I believe as Christians and members of the local church we need to be more proactive in including persons with dementia in church activities and ensure our churches are dementia-friendly environments. I believe we are not currently achieving this.

I believe God has a plan for me which involves being a Christian and a dementia specialist, as of yet I do not know what that is, so for now I will continue to show the love of God to people with dementia both in my workplace and within my home church.

AOIFE MC GOVERN NEWBRIDGE, CO. KILDARE

the kingdom to Israel?” He said “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority” and then He goes on to talk to them about being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.

He didn’t say, “No, it’s not going to happen” but rather that their focus should be on their Spirit-empowered mission. I understand Jesus’ reply to mean that God is in control of the restoration of the land to Israel. The “Promised Land” was covenanted by God to the Israelites as an everlasting possession apart from the covenant of salvation, which finds its fulfilment in Christ in the new covenant ( Jeremiah 32).

The apostle Paul speaks of this when he shares his heart for the Jewish people, stating that theirs is “the adoption as sons…

the divine glory, the covenants...” (Romans 9).

As long as the universe exists God has said the nation of Israel will never cease to be a nation before Him. Despite global warming and our destruction of the planet, I think we will last for some time yet.

Across the globe, there is a great need for peacemakers and the work of reconciliation is an essential contributor to establishing Eden here on earth. The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation distils this heartbeat of prayer for forgiveness and desire for peace. (See Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad’s book Father Forgive). Blessed are the peacemakers.

ALISON BOURKE DONEGAL

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

VOX JULY - SEP 2016

JULY - SEP 2016 VOX

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TOUR

NG FAITH

FINDI

CRIPPLED WITH ANXIETY

Joel Rosborough from the Waterside in Derry is part of Foyle Vineyard Church. He is currently working as an intern with Exodus and is planning to lead a mission trip to Hungary this summer.

As a teenager, I had acute anxiety. I used to over-process everything. I wanted nothing to do with God for a while and I pulled away from church.

I got so angry that I used to throw my Bible at the wall.

One day when I was in 5th year at secondary school, I flung open my Bible and saw John chapter 3. I remember reading and I began to get it. It felt like Jesus was in my room, giving me a hug. I ran to my mum and said, “There is grace, why doesn’t everybody get this? There really is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Something significantly shifted that night. It was the beginning of my journey as a Christian. Jesus means everything to me.

He has transformed my life and has given me a purpose and a passion.

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

In May, VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams travelled around Ireland for this year’s “Finding Faith Tour” - hunting down stories of faith. These are just some of the people she encountered along the way.

Jessica Mc Givern from near Kells in County Meath grew up in a Christian family but in her teens she began to drift away from God. Then things took a turn for the worse and she found herself questioning everything she had ever believed.

God was the centre of our family. I always thought that bad things didn’t happen to Christians but then things started going wrong.

Our family business failed - my parents had poured themselves into it! Then my dad had a heart attack and two months later my mum was diagnosed with cancer.

I started asking, “If God is real why did He abandon me? Why did He let bad things happen to my family?” It really shook my faith.

Slowly things started to change. I began to realise it is not what you go through but how you go through it. Getting back to church

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VOX JULY - SEP 2016

MY STORY FAITH IN REAL LIFE!

MADE REDUNDANT

James Scott from Belfast became a Christian nine years ago and his life has changed dramatically since then. Having once struggled with addiction and suicide, he is passionate about helping people on the “edge” of society.

I lost my job in March. I was working for a grass roots organisation supporting people dealing with addiction, suicidal feelings and self harm but through lack of funding we were literally handed a letter of termination. We were left to pick up the pieces.

I had been working with a guy called Joe who was homeless. The day I got laid off, I got a phone call to say he had gone into crisis. I agreed to meet up with him in the hostel and spent time with him. He is now going to our church and he recently gave his life to Christ.

Obviously I was worried about finance. On Easter Sunday, I sat at my in-laws house and all I could think about was, “How am I going to afford the mortgage?” Suddenly I received a text message from my pastor saying they had received an anonymous donation of £1,000 to see us through the next month. That gave me the freedom to continue supporting people.

Through this period of brokenness…we’ve been able to bring people to church! It has been unbelievable. Then after two months, I got a phone call saying that jobs from my old workplace had been transferred to a new organisation. I was offered my old job back with the same salary.

was difficult. I thought it would be hard listening to people talking about how good God is but then I realised it helped me to see other people’s love for God. I began to look at God and not the circumstances. I focused on the things that I knew were true. I would enjoy nature and looked at the beautiful earth God has given us. Getting back to understanding His love was a long process. I realised He does love me and He didn’t abandon me.

Six years on, my mum is cancer free and my dad is doing well. Although I would never want to go through it again, I’m glad I did because it brought me deeper than I ever thought I could go. By the end, I reached a place of relying on God. I had nothing but Him. I’m not afraid of what might come now. There is nothing too big for God. He will walk me through it.

VOX MAGAZINE

GOD IS FAITHFUL!

Camera-shy David from Carlow is in his 80s. In a gentle and un-dramatic way, he shared his story of a lifetime walking with God through ups and downs, success and failure. His story is a testimony to God’s faithfulness! Here’s just a taste…

I was brought up by godly parents. My grandfather had been a Methodist Pastor and my mother was a Presbyterian.

I went in turn to both churches and attended both Sunday Schools as well as my local Crusaders (now Urban Saints) class. It was at a Crusader camp in Drogheda as a teenager that I first gave my life over to God. As a single young man working in England, there were many temptations. However, through frequent understanding letters from both parents and many contacts with Christians, God constantly helped me in my

loneliness. It seems as if He was speaking to me through the links in a long chain of folks who all had a personal belief in Jesus.

Eleven years ago, I had almost total kidney failure (cause unknown). I was rushed to hospital where I remained for three months. My doctor told me later that had I not reached hospital when I did, I would not have survived.

One day I reached out from my hospital bed to take the Gideon’s Bible. I placed it on the blankets and it fell open.

My eyes saw one verse (Mark 2: 11) ‘Stand up, take up your mat and go home, because you are healed.’ Soon afterwards, I recovered as unexpectedly as I had become ill and I’ve never had any problem since! God never let go of me. He never lets go of us!

“I LOVE THE IDEA OF LETTING GOD SORT OUT MY FUTURE.” CALLED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Sam Corcoran (22) is the Youth Pastor at Lighthouse Church in Navan, Co. Meath but he grew up in Carlow. This is a little of his story: When I was in fifth year at school, I was a rugby player and everything looked really good outside.

I had a good home. Mam and dad loved me. I was doing well in school. But I always felt that there was something inside me that wasn’t being filled.

My brother Jamie had become a pastor - I knew it was something to do with religion and I didn’t want to go near it. I thought he was a lunatic but I still loved him so much because he was my big brother.

On Easter Sunday, I went to his church and watched Jamie doing his thing. I felt a niggling feeling in my heart. The following day my other brother was supposed to pick me up but he forgot. Jamie said he could bring me home but not until after the conference he was going to. I was quite angry. It was midterm and I had a date that Monday night.

At the conference, I realised there were so many young people. This was supposed to be a church conference! Pastor PJ Booth was speaking about young people being giants in the land. Something stirred up inside me. I knew Ireland needed to change.

Some of my friends had gone to prison. Others had committed suicide. PJ asked for anyone who felt compelled to make a difference to come and be prayed for.

Before I knew it, I was up the front. I didn’t really understand what I was doing but I stayed at the conference for the next three days. When I got back to my friends, I told them, “I’ve become a Christian.”

They asked, “What’s that?” I said, “I don’t know but when I find out I’ll tell you.” I knew that I had met someone called Jesus and my life was transformed. It was hard for me in 5th year.

I lost a lot of the crowd but I discovered who my true friends were.

Seán Ó Rónáin is a 22-years-old sports student and a member of the Irish Weightlifting team. In the last two years, his life has turned upside down.

I grew up culturally Catholic - going to mass once in a while and never doubting that there was a God but not really knowing anything about Jesus. By the age of 16, the most important things in my life were my friends and going to parties.

We went through some tough times as a family and that really affected me. I began wondering what was the point? I started seeing people as objects, using people, especially girls.

My mum had some great friends who invited her to a Christian camp in County Wicklow. Mum played a trick on us. She told us we were going camping. When we arrived, I thought, “This is going to be weird but I’ll do it for my mum’s sake.” The people were amazing.

They were so open and welcoming.

Two guys, Matthew and Daniel did a talk on the Prodigal son, which really spoke to me. I was questioning my value as a person and they told me that God loves me and He is waiting for me. That idea was outstanding - that God loves me for who I am.

After that week, I started my first year at UCD. My friend Matthew asked me to join Band of Brothers (run by Agape), a group of guys who get together to study the Bible and discuss what it means to be a Christian. I can’t recall when I decided to follow Jesus - it happened somewhere between February and April! But I was still living life my own way.

I went back to Band of Brothers in my second year at university and it was the first time I had heard the Holy Spirit speaking to me directly. “Sean, why are you still living this life?” That was when it hit me. There were things I had to stop doing.

As a new Christian, I had a lot of difficulties with the idea of “no sex before marriage”. Then I realised that everyone is made in the image of God. I should not be “using” people to fulfil my desires; I don’t have the right to use somebody else for my satisfaction. I’ve changed so dramatically but that would not be possible without Jesus.

Weightlifting is important to me right now but success does not define me. I love to train and get better. I believe Jesus is with me. I go through a lot of prayer when I’m competing. My passion is to follow Jesus in every way possible. When I am lifting weights, some day I hope people will see Jesus through that. I think that in everything we do, we can testify about Jesus.

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FREE TO FORGIVE

Marion O Connor from Listowel, Kerry describes herself as a “microwave Christian” because so much has happened over the last year.

I’ve been saying that I’ve found Jesus but Jesus was never lost. He was the one who found me! I always thought I knew God; it wasn’t until a weekend away women’s conference that my whole experience with God began.

Lack of forgiveness had me ill. There was a person I hated and wished nothing but badness for. During the weekend, the speaker came in with a big rucksack on her back.

I kept thinking, “Why is she not taking off the backpack?” She took out big stones from the rucksack and she talked about the things we carry around with us, like stress and unforgiveness. Then she gave us each little stones to write on and invited us to leave them at the cross.

I cried so much that weekend it would probably fill a pond. I started praying for this person that I hated. I learnt to leave it at the cross. Something in my heart turned upside down.

I was given “God’s love letter” and some of the words stood out to me. It said that God knew me before I was born. He was there when this happened. When God gets hold of you there is no turning back. He has promised that He will hold me in His hand.

Last weekend we climbed up Mount Brendan and I took a stone with the word “forgiveness” on it. There is a cross at the top of the mountain and I left that stone there. But I brought a huge stone down with me as a reminder that when you give God something He gives you back so much more!

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Debra Ikieby lives with her husband and five children in Ennis, County Clare. Recently she organised a “Praise Festival” bringing together over 200 people to worship God. The event was so successful that she is now thinking about running a Youth Praise event in the future.

I have a passion for youth. I would love them to know that they are beautiful the way they are.

They don’t have to compete with another person.

They don’t have to conform to society. We are all unique.

When we come together to worship God, it is amazing. When things are tough I just sing it out.

There is power in praise. It is my place of refuge.

My childhood was rough. I was told that nobody would love me, that I was not good enough. I used to sleep on the streets and nobody would take me in.

When I heard about Jesus, I thought, “Who is this… who already knows who I am?” He made something out of nothing and now my voice can be heard. I heard the verse that says, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” I love Jesus. I love Him so much.

I remember having to wait for someone to eat their food so I could eat their leftovers. Today I can walk into my kitchen and I have everything I need. I was told I would not have a child. Now the Lord has given me these five beautiful children.

It was hard for me to believe. My story is a lifetime. I’m going to keep saying it while I have breath. It is just by His grace.

GOD IS REAL!

Seamus Kerr is the pastor of Liffey Valley Vineyard Church. He recalls the early days of his faith journey!

I met Ann Marie in college and asked her out four or five times but she said no every time. A year later she said, “Yes.” In that year, she had been to a Nicky Cruz rally and had become a Christian. We started going out and I began reading the Bible. That year, I went to Knock with my family. I escaped from the family and hid in the prayer chapel and I heard God saying, “What are you going to do?”

I thought, “Oh, you are real!” and I gave my life to God. I knew I only had a Gideon’s New Testament but I wanted a Bible. There was a huge queue in the bookshop and my dad wanted to leave. I was so desperate that I took a Bible and then rolled up five pounds and put it in the poor box. That is how I got my first Bible (I stole it!).

Back in Dublin we joined a charismatic prayer group with 30 elderly women and out of that we formed a small young people’s prayer group. Ann Marie and I ended up leading the group. We had 50 people attending meetings, all under the age of 25. Then suddenly we felt God saying it was time to close it. We were shocked. When told our guys, they went crazy but when they prayed about it, they all heard the same thing.

Two or three weeks after that we received a letter from Sean and Debbie who were coming to Dublin to establish a Vineyard church, so many of us joined the new Dublin Vineyard, which is still going strong to this day!

VOX MAGAZINE

BREAKING THE CYCLE

When you see Kaja and Adam Kiszka from Poland with their five beautiful children, a lovely home in Ennis, County Clare and Adam’s successful job as a graphic designer, you would not believe what this young couple have overcome. Brought up with alcoholic parents, they both began drinking and using drugs as very young teenagers. Yet they found the strength to break the cycle of addiction and to start a new life in Ireland. It was obvious that God had His hand on their lives…

Kaja’s shared: Every single person I knew growing up was a Catholic but it was more tradition than religion. And although my grandmother brought me to church and told me about Jesus, I thought church was boring.

My parents got divorced just after I was born.

My mother always told me that my father left because of me. I grew up with this guilt that it was my fault. I couldn’t understand why he wanted my sister and not me.

I hated my father and my mother never showed me love. Her alcohol problem got worse and she was often drunk. At church, I heard that God hates sinners. I always thought that all this bad stuff happened to me because I’m bad. At times, I wanted to pray but I thought, “I’m not good enough and God wouldn’t listen to me anyway.”

I was 12 when I started to smoke and drink beer. When I had problems at school, my friends told me about drugs that could help me to learn so I used the drugs to pass my exams. Then things got worse so I started taking drugs just to cope with life.

Adam shared: As children, we were forced to go to church by my alcoholic father. My mum was very kind and loved us so much but she was afraid to leave him - we lived with constant domestic violence.

I was an altar boy but because of that I saw behind the scenes and I realised things were wrong. The priest was beating us and he had a woman and a child. I thought it is bad when the people of God do these things. It pushed me away from God. I started drinking and taking drugs when I was 13 and became addicted very young. I was angry at the church but I never stopped believing in God. I had this emptiness but I was afraid to search for something.

Kaja shared: When I met Adam, it clicked between us, initially just as friends. We spent the time drinking and taking drugs together. Eventually we fell in love. But then the police caught us with drugs and we were put on probation. It was so scary that we stopped taking drugs and stopped going out.

I got pregnant when I was 17 and we were married one month before our first child was born. Another child followed soon afterwards. Adam’s sister was here in Ireland and Adam decided to find a job here.

Two months later, I came here with the two kids.

Eventually three more children came along.

I began to feel the need for God again and started going to church but I still felt I wasn’t good enough.

My best friend told me about Ennis Evangelical Church. I thought it sounded interesting.

Eventually, I went and when I heard how they were singing, I knew that this must be from God. These people really cared about me and welcomed me. From that point I attended every Sunday and told Adam everything I heard and experienced. I could not point to a specific time when I became a Christian, but gradually I came to understand more and more.

Adam shared: When Kaja started going to church, I didn’t want anything to do with it. I was

afraid it would be something weird. But eventually I came along for the baptism of our friends. I was amazed by the way they worshipped God and the focus on the scripture. That caught my attention.

I started looking into scripture. Kaja and I began speaking together about God. Sometime we would stay up talking until 3am even when I had to go to work the next day.

I used to think I had to earn my salvation. But then I had a dream. Someone asked me, “What is the most important thing in your life?” and I answered, “Jesus Christ who saved me.”

I came more and more to know Jesus and what He has done for us. It gave me so much peace. I feel loved.

I used to be so afraid, wondering how I can provide for our family. I don’t feel afraid anymore. I know God will provide. When I think about what God has already done for us, I know nothing is impossible.

Jesus is my best friend. He is number one in my life. There is nothing more important. And it is beautiful that I can share this with my wife and family.

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BY DR KEN BAKER

“OH THE JOYS OF… BEARING FRUIT” very morning, before we start our individual prayer This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing times, my wife Val and I listen to a selection from yourselves to be my disciples…. I chose you and appointed the book of Psalms, starting with Psalm 1. A friend you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” of mine wrote a whole book on Psalm 1 last year I picked up a book on youth ministry by Tim Hawkins and I have come to see why. It is so rich! It forms a powerful because of the title: Fruit that Will Last. According to Tim, introduction to the whole book, and, in fact, Spurgeon called the “point” of fruit is its seedbearing capacity. The goal of an it the “Gateway Psalm.” apple is not for me to eat it but for it to produce more apple But here’s the thing: in its quiet understated way, it claims trees. that the whole difference between good and evil can be So the primary goal of youth ministry (or, for our purposes, measured in terms of fruitfulness. Fruitfulness derives from ALL ministry) is discipleship. There are many cheap substitutes being God-connected and longevity derives from being Godfor real fruit-bearing. But what impacted me was the first rooted. thought: thinking about numbers or thinking about disciples.

Well, that’s what I want for my life, for my family, and for Are we building attenders or disciples? Tim’s youth my church. To be connected, long-lasting, to flourish… to ministry team reviewed what they were doing. 80% of their produce something worthwhile… to be fruitful. As Wesley effort was put into getting kids to come along and be put it: “Lord, let me not live to be entertained, so they made a useless.” dramatic change, “…we were Psalm 1 begins, “Oh, the joys of going to put 80% of our effort FRUITFULNESS DERIVES FROM BEING GOD-CONNECTED into growing genuine disciple of those… They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit AND LONGEVITY DERIVES FROM BEING GOD-ROOTED. Christ, and only a small amount each season. Their leaves never of effort into making our group wither and they prosper in all they attractive in other ways.” do.”

I’d like to really ponder that in The verses remind me of Bill Johnson’s description terms of our church communities. It’s important to make the of intimacy with God as his ”life-source” and “source of vital distinction between bearing fruit and achieving success. strength.“ How do I develop that fruit-producing There’s something quiet and natural about fruitbearing. intimacy?

Success, by comparison may be strident and forced.

The parallel passage in John 15 suggests Here’s how Henri Nouwen put it: “There is a great the first step: God “cuts off every branch difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success in me that bears no fruit, while every comes from strength, control and respectability. A successful branch that does bear fruit person has the energy to create something, to keep control he prunes so that it will be over its development, and to make it available in large even more fruitful…” quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame.

My Bible carries the “Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. footnote that “pruned” And fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived in is the same word as vulnerability, community is the fruit born through shared “cleaned.” If you are a brokenness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through tree, then anything dead touching one another’s wounds. Let’s remind one another that or diseased or damaged has what brings us true joy is not successfulness but fruitfulness.” to go. It means eliminating the unnecessary.

“I am the vine; you are the Ken Baker is a writer and branches. If you remain in me and I in you, pastor living in Bandon, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

County Cork.

Nothing.

But the opposite to that withering separation from Jesus is, “Everything”. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

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MAKING DISCIPLES! BACK TO BASICS

Portloaise, County Laois Discipleship was a theme for many church leaders as they seek God for the future of the church in Ireland. James Krechnyak from Portloaise shared, “I keep coming back to the fact that God called us to make disciples. That has to be the core of what we do - everything else is extra.”

James, who is handing over the leadership of New Life Church, has a vision to be part of a disciplemaking church planting movement. “We want to see churches planted that plant churches. When I came to Ireland 16 years ago (I married an Irish girl) I felt the Lord saying this was once a great missionary sending nation and it can be again. I would like to see us sharing resources, training leaders and partnering together.”

A VISION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE NORTH WEST Derry, County Londonderry On 10 October 2010, Strand Road Presbyterian Church held its final service as a congregation and the doors of this city centre church in Derry were closed. It seemed such a sad story - one that has been repeated in other parts of the island.

And yet, it was not the end! The local Presbytery began to seek God for how the buildings (the sanctuary, the church hall and the old school house) could continue to be used for God’s glory.

Over recent months the schoolhouse has been refurbished thanks to donations from Presbyterian Church Sunday Schools all over the country (children have collected coins in tubes of Smarties!) and turned into the new base for Exodus North West.

Andrew Lamberton who is a Discipleship Developer for the ministry explained, “Exodus serves the local church in disciplemaking youth ministry. We want to see generations of young people boldly following Jesus and becoming lifelong displemakers.”

The building has now become a centre for small group Bible studies, training sessions and student lunches as well as the ministry base for Andrew and his colleagues from Exodus North West (which covers a wide area from County Londonderry through Donegal and down as far as Sligo).

“We have two goals: we want to equip and empower disciplemakers in churches and organisations and we want to invest in young people at the key stages of their discipleship journey.”

This summer, six Exodus teams from the North West are heading out on trips to Romania, Hungary and Poland. The teams are made up of young people alongside two leaders who support them through a 16-week programme of preparation and then lead them during the trip.

“We would generally run four types of programmes: Explore Groups are for those who are not yet Christians who simple want to explore who Jesus is, Exchange Groups are for new believers who are learning to exchange their old life for a new life in Christ, Express Groups encourage young Christians to go deeper in their faith and learn to live a life of ministry while Extend Groups focus on becoming disciple-makers.

“The world doesn’t need smarter or more gifted people, the world needs deep people who have let God’s love seep into their lives and look out from that place of security,” Andrew added.

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LIFE

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ALL ABOARD

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THE GOSPEL

RAILWAY! ohn Izzard has been mad about trains since he was a boy, when his family lived next door to a railway line. For 22 years, he was a train driver in England before he moved to County Mayo in 2008. Here in Ireland, he has discovered a way to combine his passion for trains with his desire to share the Gospel.

John painstakingly built a model railway that he takes to Sunday Schools and children’s camps. The model railway provides illustrations for Biblical truths and children are fascinated as they watch the miniature trains running around the track.

“I show them photos of when the model was still unfinished and I explain that we can still be useful to God, even though we are not yet perfect,” John explained.

“The railway cars follow the engine and in the same way, we follow Jesus even when we don’t know where we are going. It is also important for the trains to stay on the right track - we were designed to live God’s way!”

John has developed a range of stories using his model. The farm becomes the setting for the story of the Prodigal Son, who runs away by climbing aboard the train but eventually ends up feeding pigs.

Using the railway carriages to teach different truths helps children to remember, John explains.

For example, when he teaches about the armour of God, he adds a picture of each piece of the armour onto each of the railway carriages.

Even the story of how he built the model railway has become an illustration of how God created the world!

“I became a Christian through the Alpha Course,” John shares. “Amanda, my wife, told me about it and I decided to give it a try. I took it a week at a time. I enjoyed it and it got me to think. I started going along to the Sunday service and that was not quite as boring as I thought it would be!

“It must have been about halfway through the Alpha course when we were

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doing the session about the Holy Spirit. Someone prayed for me and I don’t know how to describe it. I felt such a warmth and when I got home I was grinning from ear to ear!”

From that point on, John threw himself into the life of the church and hasn’t looked back.

To find out more about the Gospel Railway Mission, visit their page on Facebook or email gospelrailway@hotmail.com.

THE RAILWAY CARS FOLLOW THE ENGINE AND IN THE SAME WAY, WE FOLLOW JESUS EVEN WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING.

CONFESSIONS OF A FEINT SAINT

VOX MAGAZINE

Big Brother is Watching Me. Drive

By Annmarie Miles

enewing our car insurance proved very expensive this time around; and don’t think I didn’t go compare the wot-you-calls. I checked with the annoying opera singer, and the nodding dog, and I was out-of-pocket.com by the end of it.

Golly, It’s The only way to get a renewal we could afford was like i’m being to go for a policy with a ‘smart box’. This thing checks everything. The speed we’re going, the time of day we followed! travel, how quickly we accelerate or brake, and it always knows exactly where we are. I’m not sure if it has done anything to improve my driving but it has done wonders for my paranoia. If we misbehave on the road too often we’ll get a slap on the wrist. On the other hand, if we do well, we could get a good reduction in the cost of next year’s premium.

So no pressure then!

It’s uncomfortable knowing we’re being watched all the time. Every turn, every brake, every hour. I may not be a better driver but I’m definitely a different driver. I suppose that’s the point. I know the rules of the road but it’s different now that there isn’t one moment when my driving is not being monitored.

Over the last few weeks I’ve been re-reading Psalm 139. It’s a wonderful reminder of God’s character. His omnipotence (He is all-powerful), His omniscience (He is all knowing), and His omnipresence (He is in all places, at all times).

The most powerful, knowledgeable being is always watching.

He is the ultimate insurer, smart box included. So how come I so often act, speak and think as if He hasn’t got His constant eye on me?

The little box in the car doesn’t only keep watch to check out what I’m doing wrong. It also has less invasive and more positive purposes. It could track the car if it was stolen. If I was travelling and ended up in some distress; or if I got lost or the car broke down, I could be found and helped. The box is there to look after me too.

And God’s eyes are also on me for good. He is not waiting to point out my wrong doings. He watches me because He cares and because He wants what is best for me.

‘Big Brother’ may be watching me, but My Father watches over me too. 24/7, 365 days a year; and that’s alright with me!

Now if only He would show me where the car keys are, I could dash out to the shops. …I say dash, I mean travel within the speed limit, with due caution... obviously!

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“It’s uncomfortable knowing we’re being watched all the time.”

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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NOEL KENNY FROM LIBERTY CHURCH IN DUBLIN 8

A year ago, I was involved with the Assemblies of God on the national leadership team. I was teaching in the leadership training school and involved in Dublin Arise. Last April, I gave it all up. I felt the Lord say, “Park your bike. Stop, and come and sit with me. I stopped everything. I look after my relationship with Jesus and the church but everything else is on hold. Every year I’ve said to Jesus, “You are more than enough for me.”

My identity is not attached to any ministry. I have an office out in my back garden that is my “tabernacle” there is no computer, no TV, nothing but a chair for me to sit and meet with the Lord. It is not a man cave but a place for me to be with Jesus.

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JESUS AND ME

One theme that emerged throughout this year’s Finding Faith Tour was the longing many had for a deeper relationship with Jesus. As one church leader expressed, “We can do so many things but too often Jesus is left on the side.” For many, this year’s priority was to put Jesus firmly at the centre of their lives and ministry.

HEALING STREAMS CHURCH IN NEWCASTLE WEST, COUNTY LIMERICK

Mike Winterburn I’ve been thinking about the lost sheep. When the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he rejoices. I have this sense that Jesus rejoices when He looks at me and at each of us. We often think of being not good enough but He actually rejoices over us!

Mary Hartney I’m challenged about demonstrating forgiveness and that is not easy. It is just a fresh revelation of how I’ve been forgiven and how unlimited God’s forgiveness is towards me.

Michael O’Connell Jesus gives me purpose and meaning.

I’m so hopeful of the future because Jesus is alive. I just love Him and I love what He does. I love being part of His family. He is the sustainer of everything good; of everything that is worth living for.

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MARIE THERESE MARTIN FROM ST. BRIGID’S CHURCH, DERRY, COUNTY LONDONDERRY

Jesus is my best friend, my number one and the love of my life. He is my priority. I have a very real relationship with Him. I can talk to Him all the time and be myself. He knows the craic with me.

It is very real. Every day, I know He is there. The old traditional way was to see Jesus as distant and a fearful God. I don’t feel that at all. I’ll even pray for parking spaces and when one opens up I’ll say, “Thank you, Jesus.”

We hear in the gospels, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find.” I believe in miracles. Society tells you to be realistic - that it can’t happen. There is a conflict there. It takes strength to stand for Christ and I love it!

JAMES KRECHNYAK FROM LIFE CHURCH IN PORTLAOISE, COUNTY LAOIS

I think the pressures of ministry have resulted in me realising that I need Him more.

I feel weaker now than I did when I started the church and a deeper hunger for the simplicity of my relationship with Him. I guard that more. If I don’t have His presence then none of this stuff matters. I really want to hear His voice. I think I’m more hungry but also more simplistic. I’ve found that sometimes I wake up in the morning in a panic. Then I have to go back to Him and go deeper. I feel more childlike in my faith and I’m okay with that. I care less about what people think about me. I’m learning to ask, “What does the Father think about me?” I value peace and joy and His love more than anything else.

VOX MAGAZINE

TONY BRODERICK FROM RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH IN ATHLONE

I came to faith during the charismatic renewal. I met a friend who had moved back to Athlone and she had changed so much. She started talking about Jesus and she was so full of joy. When she invited me to a meeting, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. When they started praising God, I thought, “I’m in a mental home.”

But the people appeared to have a living relationship with Jesus and I found myself going back. There was something there and eventually I made a decision. I prayed, “Lord if you really are there, then I want to know you. But you better hit me with a sledgehammer. I don’t want any messing.”

In that instant I was hit with such liquid love. I was bowled over with the love of Jesus. I knew that He was alive. I knew that He loved me. That was 40 years ago!

I couldn’t survive without Jesus in my life. For me God is love, end of story! Now that I’m retired, every morning six days a week, I open up the church at 9am and play some praise and worship. People drop in to pray or worship or simply have a cup of tea. We have some incredible times. There is such a powerful sense of the presence of God in this place.

ANDREW LAMBERTON FROM FAHAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, COUNTY DONEGAL

There is nothing sweeter; there is nothing better than knowing God. Any other starting place for life seems so weak in comparison to knowing Jesus and the hope that brings.

It is a little bit like watching a football game after you know that your team wins. It gives you a completely different mindset. You are quite calm because you know the score.

I’ve read Revelation and Jesus wins. I’m on His side and He loves me.

I don’t mind serving with sacrifice; I don’t mind working hard; I don’t mind giving my all to see young people coming to know Jesus; I don’t mind the disappointments and the failures; because I know Him!

Trainer 2nd of 4 Training Sessions

Training day for those serious about teaching the Bible to children.

Rory Bell is director of Teaching and Training Ministries, an organisation that equips ordinary people to teach the Bible to children. Rory and his wife, Kim, have worked in a number of different sized churches in a range of contexts both in South Africa and the UK. He has conducted extensive training in churches and theological colleges in South Africa, Singapore, Dubai, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Germany, Norway, Hong Kong, Australia and throughout the United Kingdom.

TnT Ministries publishes Mustard Seeds Bible teaching resources.

Training Outline Get REAL with Children – Two Part Session

Children are not simply mini-adults! They’re in the process of developing into adults and they therefore have rapidly changing abilities. If they are going to be taught effectively these abilities must be taken into account.

Explore the differences between children and adults so that you can adapt your teaching style to hit the spot – every time! The first session deals with the intellectual, emotional and physical development of children. The second session is dedicated to understanding their spiritual development.

TnT Ministries in partnership with

Saturday 24 September 2016 Venue: Swords Baptist Church The Riasc Centre Feltrim Road, Swords, Co Dublin

Bring your whole team and be encouraged, enthused and equipped!

10:00am to 4:00pm, €20 per person (includes refreshments - bring your own packed lunch)

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Book online: www.tntministries.org.uk/ireland

Email: bookings@tntministries.org.uk

Mobile: +44 772 266 3703

TnT Ministries (Registered Charity No. 1102864) Unit 6 - Endeavour House, 2 Cambridge Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT1 3JU Telephone: 0208 549 4967

Get REAL with Tough Passages

Get to grips with teaching some of the really difficult (perhaps even gruesome) passages of the Bible to children of all ages.

Get REAL in Pointing to Jesus

How do you teach the Old Testament as God’s Word about Jesus rather than a Jewish history book? Learn to teach Jesus while teaching the Old Testament faithfully and with integrity.

Thanks very much for Saturday. It’s changed my whole approach to lesson planning. Great stuff!

It was such a great help for me and all the team I lead.

I wanted to say a massive thank you on behalf of our Youth and Junior Church team for your input to our children’s ministries on Saturday. We are so grateful for the teaching, encouragement, discipline, validation, wisdom, food for thought and wealth of ideas we now have to put into practice.

“ An incredible learning experience ...�

Modular and Short Courses

Certificate in Applied Theology (day and evening)

Online Courses

Courses for everyone BA in Applied Theology, Youth Ministry Christian Leadership

Foundation Award

MA in Applied Theology, MA in Transformational Leadership

Call now on 01-8069060 or email Sarah@ibi.ie See details of all our courses at 22

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www.IBI.ie

FAITH

VOX MAGAZINE

PROMISE

FULFILLED During the Finding Faith Tour, VOX Editor Ruth Garvey-Williams visited TREM House of Mercy Church in Galway. This vibrant church, established in 2005, is part of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) Worldwide and is one of six TREM churches in Ireland. Pastor (Rev) Chuka Oguekwe and his wife, Pastor Blessing Oguekwe lead the Galway church. At the service on May 8, Pastor Chuka shared a timely message from Joshua chapter one. As the Israelites prepared to step into the Promised Land, they discovered that God is a God who fulfils His promises. Here we bring you a taste of what Pastor Chuka had to say:

he reliability of any promise depends on the person Sometimes the facts contradict the truth! We look around at making the promise. If my 12-year-old son promised our circumstances and they seem contrary. Yet God’s promises to buy me a car, I would probably have to wait for are, “Yes and Amen!” They cannot fail. God knows how dark your another 10 years before that promise could be tomorrow will be and He has promised you light! fulfilled. A promise is as strong as the one who made it.

Let’s not focus on the promises themselves but on the one Our faith is based on the promise of God but we don’t put who has made the promises. Let’s talk more about Him. Let’s get our faith in the promise itself. Our faith is to know Him more. If we know Him, we in God. He is the one who will fulfil His can trust Him. Then all we have to do is word. wait.

WE NEED TO BE GOD-CHASERS, PEOPLE God is not a religious God; He is a How much time do you spend getting God of relationship. The more we know to know God? Many of us think we can WHO SEEK AFTER HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY. Him the more we trust Him! Paul says, know God through pastors and teachers.

“I know whom I have believed, and am Your pastor can teach you about God but convinced that He is able to guard what I nobody can teach you to know God. The have entrusted to Him until that day.” (1 Timothy 1:12) Bible teaches you the attributes of God but we need to be GodWhen Job was suffering, he held on to his knowledge of God. chasers, people who seek after Him wholeheartedly. Then He will He knew God was able to bring him through. There is a light at reveal Himself to us. the end of the tunnel. Weeping will endure for the night but joy That is why Paul says to the Philippians, “I consider everything a comes in the morning. loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

You cannot know God in a single day.

And when you come to know God, you can never remain the same. You will stand for Him, even when everyone else is bowed down. You will refuse to follow the crowd. When you know God, you will be willing to drop everything at His feet.

Every name that we call God is a name that describes somebody’s personal experience of Him. Abraham saw God’s provision and called him Jehovah Jireh. Moses described God as Jehovah Nissi (God is my banner) after God defeated the Amalekites.

What is your name for God? What experience do you have with Him that no one else has? The names you give God will describe your relationship with Him. Sometimes God allows you to go through situations that you don’t understand. God began to talk to Abraham based on things that had not yet happened. God called him the “Father of a great nation” before he had a single child.

But Abraham trusted God to fulfil His promise (Romans 4: 2- 24).

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REALITY

SERVING THE LOVE OF JESUS Community meals in the ON A PLATE Loaves and Fishes Café

very week for almost two years, a small church in Arklow, County Wicklow, has cooked and served at least 100 meals for people in their community - free of charge and no questions asked. This inspirational project is a wonderful example of how a small community of believers can make a big impact!

The Loaves and Fishes Café has become a lifeline in this post-industrial town of 13,000, which was devastated by the recession. And people receive so much more than just a meal.

Pauline Hughes is one of the coordinators. “Recently, I went to hug someone and they were so taken aback,” she shared. “They said it had been years since anybody had hugged them!”

Bridge Christian Community was established in 1999. For years the church

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trip to England and helped out on an allotment, which was growing food for the struggled to find places to meet, moving homeless. That inspired us,” Robert shared. from hotel room to hotel room. “We soon “We had three conversations on the same realised there was a need for a community day in which people encouraged us to start space with facilities not just for the church, feeding people in Arklow. One person but for the wider community as well,” said. ‘I see you getting surplus food from shared Pastor Robert Holden. supermarkets.’”

Eventually in 2011, the church bought At the time, Robert thought such a thing the former YouthReach building in the town was impossible but he came home and the centre, refurbished it and turned it into a very next day, the church received a call from church-cum“Food Cloud” community a charity centre. which aims The Bridge PEOPLE RECEIVE SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A MEAL. to eliminate Centre is in food waste a townland by putting known locally charities in as the “Sheepfold,” touch with supermarkets that are throwing which seems apt! away surplus food.

Then in 2014, through a series of “They told us our local Tesco had come speakers and chance encounters, people on board,” Robert said. And with this first in the church felt God was calling them to little miracle, the “community meal” “feed people”. became a reality.

“We took a group of teens on a mission Once a week, every week the centre is

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a big deal,” Pauline said. “People can feel embarrassed but it helps that they see that we are eating with them. People come in for all sorts of reasons.”

The café has a play area for little ones and a homework room for older children, so whole families can come in.

People in the church provide home bakes every week so after the cooked meal, there is always a cuppa and cake to finish off. Everybody in the church has become involved and they now have a “bank” of 40 eager local volunteers, many of whom had no previous connection with the church.

It is hard work but a lot of fun too.

“Yesterday, we were so filled with joy, we were waltzing around the kitchen,” smiled Pauline.

OPEN DOORS AND OPEN HEARTS

opened up between 4.30 and 6.30pm for We’ve gone through a bucket load of money anybody who wants to come in for a hot but we do it very economically,” Pauline meal. And the team also cooks and serves a explained. meal on Christmas Day! And the food itself is extremely tasty “We all eat together, volunteers and too! Pauline added, “It is just ordinary guests alike,” Robert said. “Some people people who are doing the cooking. They come because they are hungry and a lot cook as if they were cooking for the family of people come because they are lonely. Some take ‘takeaways’ so we IF JESUS WERE STILL WALKING THE EARTH, HE WOULD BE are feeding people SITTING AT ONE OF THOSE TABLES TALKING TO PEOPLE. we’ve never even met. We set out to serve the love of Jesus on a plate and we have stuck with that!” and then multiply the quantities. But we The Loaves and Fishes Café uses food have never had a meal that didn’t taste surplus from two local supermarkets good!”

(Tesco and Aldi) thanks to Food Cloud, It didn’t take much publicity to launch. and the church grows its own vegetables Working hand-in-hand with Social Welfare on an allotment - so the project is both cost and the local council’s Social Inclusion effective and environmentally friendly! “We network as well as charity, St. Vincent de are serving about 100 meals and they could Paul, word soon spread. cost anything from 20 cent to 80 cent a meal.

“The first time someone comes in is

“There is a massive community spirit in Arklow and when people see a good thing, they get behind it,” Robert added. “We had been praying for years about how we could reach this community. Somehow the barriers have come down. It has taken years and years of work and lovely local people who have been praying and praying and praying for this community.”

Since launching Loaves and Fishes Café, the church members have found more and more opportunities to pray for people and invite them to services. With positive newspaper articles and fund-raising support from a range of local community groups, the project has opened doors and opened hearts.

“You are very kind. I haven’t experienced a lot of kindness in my life,” one man told the team, as he showed them photos of his children.

“It really is a miracle that such a small church has been able to do this,” Robert said. (There is a core of about 12 people in the church.) “The way God has blessed us has been amazing. We’ve had other churches in the town donate gifts to us. Our church helps out at the local Presbyterian church’s children’s camp each year and then out-ofthe-blue a Presbyterian church in the North sent us a large donation that went towards our industrial cooker.”

As a result of the café and the church’s popular Parent and Toddler group, people are beginning to come along to special church events and Sunday Services. But it is often in the one-to-one chats over the dinner table that the most profound opportunities take place.

“If Jesus were still walking the earth, He would be sitting at one of those tables talking to people,” Pauline said.

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FAITH

DISCOVER YOUR PASSION FOR THE BIBLE INTRODUCING THE WORK OF PRECEPT MINISTRIES IRELAND

BY GARETH BELL

n the 5th century, Ireland was unimportant for society today. According considered a “pagan” country to recent polls even churchgoers aren’t with its people worshipping reading ‘The Book’ with 40% saying that multiple gods represented by the they only read their Bible occasionally (once sky, earth and water. It is in this context that or twice a month). One in five admitted to St. Patrick came to Ireland with the news of never reading the Bible at all. I believe one the one true God: a God who truly loved of the reasons for this is that people don’t them. Over a short period, Patrick made an understand the BIG story of the Bible. They impact on over 120,000 people as people don’t see the continuation of its message and chose to accept Patrick’s God as the one true therefore miss what it is communicating to God. What Patrick those living in our did was astonishing. world today.

He established Precept IT IS NO SECRET THAT BIBLICAL LITERACY Ministries Ireland with the Ireland truth of God’s word IS IN DECLINE. desires to see Ireland and offered people established in God’s the opportunity to word by helping experience God for themselves. It is this people to discover their passion for the same vision that God has placed into our Bible, to engage with God through it and to hearts at Precept Ministries Ireland. go on to live as followers of Jesus Christ. We It is no secret that biblical literacy is do this by helping local people to commence in decline. This has become evident as we Bible study classes in their area and through watch people on popular game shows unable practical resources and workshops that share to answer simple questions based on Bible the skills of inductive Bible study. stories. In a recent survey carried out by the Bible Society, one in three didn’t consider CLASSES, RESOURCES AND WORKSHOPS the Nativity story to be part of the Bible.

Trained leaders throughout Ireland Over half (59 percent) didn’t know that offer classes in churches, homes and other Jonah being swallowed by the great fish is small group settings. These provide the in the Bible. Around 30 percent of parents opportunity to go deeper into God’s Word didn’t know that Adam and Eve, David and with others as you study the Bible together.

Goliath, or the Good Samaritan were in the We have a wide range of helpful, practical Bible. resources available both for individual and That lack of biblical literacy has led to group Bible study. a lack of biblical doctrine as people deem Precept Ministries also offers training the Bible to be irrelevant, out of date and for small groups, churches or groups of

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churches. Topics include: • Introduction to the Inductive Bible Study Method • How To Study Old Testament Prophecy and History • How To Study New Testament Epistles • Introduction To Biblical Prayer • Introduction To Spiritual Gifts - “Finding your place of service in the Church” • Witnessing - “God’s Blueprint from the Book Of Acts” • Precept Leader Training - Equipping you to lead others

ALL IRELAND TOUR 2016

From April to June, Precept Ministries Ireland travelled around Ireland with a tour entitled, “How the Bible fits together”.

This was a one-day interactive workshop identifying the main people and time periods of the Bible. As we looked at these together, participants learned how to recognise their lives within God’s big picture. The purpose for this workshop was to introduce people to God’s Word in a different way, to bring clarity for people in how it fits together and for people to see that the Bible is central to all that we believe.

The tour went to five locations across the island of Ireland including Derry, Ballinasloe and Tralee. During this time we also introduced people to the Precept Ministries 40-minute series that enables people to start studying God’s Word together.

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WHAT WILL OUR LEGACY BE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS?

Today, St Patrick’s legacy lives on although he may not be remembered in the right way. However, for those of us who desire to live in accordance with God’s Word, we owe him our gratitude for bringing God’s Word to Ireland.

But, what will we pass on for the generations that are coming after us? Precept Ministries Ireland sees the importance of reaching out to each and every generation by showing them that they can know God through His Word.

It is our time to pass something on and at Precept Ministries Ireland, we look to get alongside and support youth groups across Ireland with the skills of inductive Bible study.

Tradition has it that St Patrick began his mission by starting a fire that was counter to the culture of that time.

One thing that God has stirred in the hearts of Precept

“THIS WAS THE KEY THAT UNLOCKED GOD’S WORD TO ME”

– PRECEPT MINISTRIES IRELAND STUDENT

Ministries Ireland is that God is lighting a fire across Ireland and it is with this message that we would like to leave you.

‘Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am about to kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched and the whole surface from south to north will be burned by it.’” Ezekiel 20:47-48 If you would like more details on Precept Ministries Ireland please go to www.preceptireland.org.

Gareth Bell lives in Dromara in County Down with his wife Joy and baby son. He is the new National Director of Precept Ministries Ireland and played host to VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams during this year’s Finding Faith Tour.

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REALITY

REBUILDING BROKEN LIVES THE FORMER IRISH BIBLE SCHOOL HAS BECOME A CENTRE OF HOPE AND RESTORATION

ucked away in the beautiful south Tipperary countryside, what we do. There are ‘failures’ as well as successes - some people Remar Recovery Home offers a new start to people cannot cope with the programme and end up having to leave. But it wrestling with addiction, homelessness or social is moving to see the changes that do take place [in those who stay] problems. This Christian rehabilitation centre is part - in the way they talk, the way they act and the way they do things. of a network of similar Remar homes in 77 countries worldwide, We do the work we do because God has touched our hearts and He founded 37 years ago in Spain by Miguel Diaz. helps us to continue doing it.”

Remar Ireland was launched four years ago and uses the beautiful Antonio adds, “We live here on site with our children and we farm in Coalbrook, County Tipperary, which was once home to the don’t know the background of the people who come here. Everyday Irish Bible School (now the Irish Bible Institute). we put our children in the hands of God and trust that He will Sandra and Antonio Riberio are the administrators on site and protect them.”

Antonio is the pastor for the small community. Originally from Becoming self-sufficient is an important aim for Remar.

Portugal, the couple spent 20 years working in Remar homes in the Growing their own vegetables on the farm, they also run a charity UK. They came to Ireland to work alongside Vaun, a former addict shop in Thurles, which helps to fund the work. Charity “Food who is now supporting others through the recovery process.

Cloud” arranged for Remar to receive surplus food from the local The centre provides a one-year Tesco supermarket; food that would programme for people seeking a otherwise be thrown away. [Ed note: fresh start and especially for those You can find out more about the great who are trying to beat addiction to WE DO THE WORK WE DO BECAUSE GOD HAS TOUCHED work of this Irish charity at www.food. drugs or alcohol. Residents receive cloud.] free accommodation and food as well OUR HEARTS AND HE HELPS US TO CONTINUE DOING IT. The home itself is heated using as a structured programme of help, a wood burner that runs largely on support and counselling. donated wood. Chickens provide plenty The remote location is helpful of eggs to feed the hungry residents and as it removes people from the temptations of daily life and the wool from the sheep is also sold to help cover costs. circumstances that have often contributed to their problems.

While it is not required, many residents enjoy helping out on Churches, especially in Dublin, have referred people to the the farm and once they have completed the programme, others Remar Recovery Home and the team is now considering opening get involved with serving in the charity shop. Practical work can a second centre in Cork to provide a halfway house between rehab be an immense help to recovery as is the beautiful and peaceful and normal life. rural setting of south Tipperary. Other residents enjoy using the “We don’t say ‘no’ to anybody,” Antonio shares. Everyone is well-equipped on-site gym and many pitch in with chores such as welcome regardless of their race, religion or background but they collecting wood, feeding the chickens or cooking meals. come knowing that this is a Christian programme. Residents are Sandra’s father was an addict who became clean and also expected meet for morning devotions at 7.30am each day as well as found faith in Jesus thanks to the work of Remar. “I saw my dad prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings and services on Thursdays become such a different person!” she shares. This gives Sandra a and Sundays. special insight into the challenges faced by the family of those who Moving to Ireland with their seven children was not easy, Sandra are struggling to overcome addiction. She often speaks to family admits. “Everything is different. It has been challenging but God is members on the phone and provides caring support for those whose with us. The residents have become part of our family. lives have been so dramatically affected.

“Little things that happen give us the boost to continue to do Find out more at www.remarrecoveryhome.com.

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ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

LESSONS FROM FIVE ECOLOGICAL DISA S T ER S

BY BRENDAN GUILDEA n Dublin, Ecumenical Bible Week (15 - 22 May) highlighted the responsibility of Christians in caring for our environment.

Barrister Brendan Guildea facilitated a lunchtime discussion looking at environmental law. “Christians can often be aware of the issues facing the environment but don’t always follow through with good choices (e.g. recycling, choice of cleaning products, etc.). We need to ask, ‘How can individual Christians and groups of Christians take action?’” Brendan said. Here are some of the cases highlighted at the event:

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FROM VW CARS TO PENGUINS

Is such a fine enough of a deterrent for the corporate elite or should criminal liability apply strictly?

ECO WARRIORS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS AND GLEN O’ THE DOWNS

Ireland is blessed with a rare and vulnerable class of habitat: the glacial oak forest. And, sure, didn’t we decide to put a dual carriageway through it – later upgrading to a motorway because of the life-changing benefits of that extra 20km per hour.

The environmental impact assessment was carried out to the letter, as per EU Directive, but the project was given the go ahead. Several eco warriors took up residence in the forest but were eventually removed by An Garda Síochána. One determined Irishman, Dermot Murphy, took a private legal action against Wicklow County Council. Our Supreme Court eventually dismissed this action on 28 January 2000.

environmental provisions but also enables companies engaged in relevant commerce to bypass public courts. Therefore, at the highest level of Australian governance, there is an express contradiction in the trade and environmental protection goals.

The recall of 2.4 million cars in Germany in October 2015 brought attention to EU law governing motor vehicle emissions.

Surprisingly, less than four months later the EU Parliament made a decision, effectively NUCLEAR ENERGY – WHEN THINGS GO permitting vehicular emissions to increase WRONG from 2019. Shouldn’t we be going the other One can learn a lot by following way? the most recent developments in the The difficulty with collective care of victims of the Chernobyl environmental negligence is that and Fukushima disasters. In the damage isn’t localised. The EU former, Ireland continues to play Parliament’s decision has a potentially CHRISTIANS CAN OFTEN BE AWARE OF THE ISSUES a humanitarian role to affected disastrous effect as far away as the families (especially through Adi Antarctic Circle – the delicate habitat FACING THE ENVIRONMENT BUT DON’T ALWAYS Roche’s Cork-based Chernobyl of penguins, amongst other precious Children International). The more FOLLOW THROUGH WITH GOOD CHOICES. and much-adored species. recent catastrophe in Japan was quickly followed by a comprehensive BP OIL SPILL compensation scheme providing In April 2010, the world looked towards How was this permitted? One technical practical and immediate financial and the Gulf of Mexico. Hundreds of images legal answer can be found by reading our health-care support to those effected. depicted the frightening scale of damage seemingly innocuous Roads Act 1993 and The regulation of nuclear energy inflicted by miss-handled “black gold” on European Communities (Natural Habitats) production seems to be tricky. To be an the unfortunate flora and fauna.

Regulations 1997. These effectively exempt attractive proposition for investors there Although 11 men died in the aftermath any development carried out by or on behalf needs to be a relatively low degree of of this disaster, not a single custodial of the National Roads Authority from legal liability for negative environmental impact. challenge under environmental law, even if But if nuclear energy is more efficient and the development is on an EU protected site. inherently better for the planet than burning of fossil fuels, shouldn’t all cities roll out a CHINESE-AUSTRALIAN TRADE AND Simpsons plant?

CORAL REEFS

sentence was imposed on those legally responsible for BP’s negligent activities.

The company had to hand over a mere $20 billion to the US government. Today BP is valued at $99 billion (Forbes).

In the age of super-tankers, we all need to learn about… ballast. Some ships take on five million kilograms of seawater, including an assortment of critters therein, in order to keep trim in rough waters. The problem begins when, having arrived at its destination, the ship empties its ballast into a completely different eco system and thereby introduces invasive alien species.

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which came into force on 20 December 2015, has sternly worded

Brendan Guildea is a practicing barrister. After paying his dues at the criminal bar in Dublin, he is now focusing on e-commerce, intellectual property and family law. And also dabbles in human rights. He would like to acknowledge with sincere thanks his friend, Shane O’Toole, for guidance and expert input on the topic.

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BEING CHURCH!

A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT GOD IS DOING IN AND THROUGH CHURCHES RIGHT ACROSS THE ISLAND CHURCH AT THE CENTRE OF THE COMMUNITY

Coleraine, County Londonderry Set at the heart of Mountsandel in Coleraine, The Sandel Centre is home to a thriving coffee shop and a host of community meetings, groups and activities. It is also a church.

Mountsandel Christian Fellowship began life as a House Church in the late 80s. As it grew, the fellowship eventually began to dream of having their own building but as the leaders looked around Coleraine, they saw so many church buildings that were lying empty for much of the week. They decided that Coleraine didn’t need another church building!

“They are very humble down-to-earth people who were not trying to be cutting edge, and yet it seems to me that God gave them a fresh vision for the church as the spiritual heart of the community,” shared John Mark Mullan, who is the church staff worker with the church.

“It probably helped that one of the elders was a town planner. He knew that planning permission had just been given for a development on this side of Coleraine. There were going to be thousands of new homes but no churches or community facilities.”

And so the idea was born to build a community centre.

“It would be a focal point, an opportunity to serve and to become the spiritual heart of the community,” John Mark said.

With miracles of God’s provision, the new centre opened in 2000. “What this building has done is to break down the distance between the church and the community,” John Mark explained. “Most people have been in here for coffee or for events that have been on. People genuinely feel that this is theirs; it is a community building. People call in every day and get to know the staff who work in the coffee shop.”

Opportunities come in the form of everyday conversations and friendships that are built over time. “The Word became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood,” John Mark added. “Jesus is the good news that God didn’t remain distant but came near in order to bring us into the family of God. That is the heart of our calling as a church. Not to throw words at people from a distance but to get close enough so they can hear the whisper of the good news.”

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EXPLOSIONS OF LOVE IN BELFAST

Belfast, County Antrim In a year that commemorates the Belfast Blitz, Every Nation Church in Belfast played host to a group of German Christians who wanted to share the love of God with the city.

Pastor Johan Vizagie explained, “A German pastor began praying through Isaiah 61 and felt that the Lord wanted him to go to all the cities where Hitler brought destruction but to come in the opposite spirit to rebuild and restore.”

In May, a team from Germany arrived to minister alongside Every Nation Church in all the areas of city that had been affected by the blitz. “They came to spend time with people with no strings or agenda other than showing the love of Christ. We gave out roses to people and found ways to serve and bless people.

“The beauty is that for us, Sunday is not the main gig. The main goal is not to get people to come to our church but to get them a little bit closer to Jesus.”

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PRAYING FOR POLITICIANS

Portadown, County Armagh Just two days before the Northern Irish elections, a group of Christians from different churches across Down, Antrim and Armagh gathered in the Tin House Coffee Shop in Portadown to pray. For two hours, young and old alike united to pray by name for every politician that was standing for election and to worship God. The event was the vision of David McBride who also runs the Tin House (three coffee shops all raising funds for projects to help some of the poorest people in Africa). During the evening, David shared from Isaiah 1:26 encouraging people to pray that God would restore integrity in public life and choose the leaders He wants in power.

“We are here to change a nation,” David said. “We can’t do that but God can. We are here to believe the impossible because our God has always done the impossible.”

NOT JUST ON SUNDAYS

SMALL CHURCH, BIG IMPACT

Navan, County Meath The thriving Lighthouse Church in Navan is on the hunt for a new premises because they have out-grown their current building. But leaders and church members shared that the focus cannot be on a building; it must be on God Himself and on what He has called the church to be.

“We want to be a light to this town; a beacon of hope,” shared youth pastor Sam Corcoran.

“Christianity is not about Sunday; it is a 24/7 life,” added Peter Brady. “Sunday is a celebration of how the week went and a filling up for the week ahead. The Bible is so relevant in our lives today.

“There are always pressures but there are also lots of opportunities to be Christlike. We can worry about what people will think but so often people are appreciative when we do show our Christlike attitudes.

“Jesus is my big challenge - how do I live like Him every day? I’m in a fairly public work situation and I’m challenged to act like him. It always interests me how Jesus’ unconditional love extends to all people. There are so many niches in society that are crying out for love.”

Liffey Valley, Dublin The Liffey Valley, west of the M50 in Dublin, is a fastgrowing area with a population of around 250,000. As one of Dublin’s newest churches, Liffey Valley Vineyard began holding Sunday services in the area three years ago. Seamus Kerr and his wife Ann Marie lead the small church, which has already made its mark on the local community.

“I was in Lucan one day and I had a picture of a woman in trouble whose face was drawn and I heard God say, ‘I hear her cry. I hear her prayer.’ A lot of people we have met have come through hard stuff. That is what led us here,” Seamus explained.

“Through our helping hand ministry we support the Women’s Refuge. Every year, we give out gift bags to the women and we also do a hamper giveaway at Christmas time for families in need.”

The church looks for ways to engage with the wider community by getting involved in local festivals and events.

The focus is very much on building relationship with people and then providing them with opportunities to draw closer to Jesus.

In the summer, after Sunday service, they set up a gazebo in the park and give out juice. “We’ll do kite flying or races or other simple things and then invite people to join in,” Seamus said.

“WE WANT TO BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS!” The Liberties, Dublin 8 Walking through the area of Dublin 8, which is known as The Liberties, Pastor Noel Kenny shares, “This is my community. In the past, this place was devastated because of heroin addiction.

Today the number of teen suicides is unbelievable. In a place like this, talk is cheap. As a church we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus!”

Noel believes it is important for churches to find where there are “gaps” in the community.

Faced with significant poverty on their doorstep, Liberty Church began the Great Big Giveaway each Christmas - providing food hampers for families in need. They started off to feed 100 families and the project has grown so much

that last year, they hand-delivered 1,511 hampers!

“As a church with no money, we gave out €50,000 worth of food last year. God did that! I believe He has a special account for widows and orphans. Because we have nothing, we are forced to depend on Him.” “Our goal is to feed a family of four over five days of Christmas. That releases money for them. We pray over every bag for the people on the receiving end of these gifts.”

Throughout the year, the church is involved in a wide range of activities, which respond to the needs of the community. This also involves partnering with other organisations such as Tiglin Rehabilitation Centre and The Lighthouse in Pearse Street, to respond to the needs of homeless people and those struggling with addiction.

“Ultimately, I’m here to reach people,” Noel shares. That means at times it gets messy but Noel’s okay with that.

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AWARD-WINNING BARBECUE WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “BE” THE CHURCH?

Portloaise, County Laois James Krechnyak is the Pastor of Life Church in Portlaoise, a town of 20,000 people perhaps best known in the past for its high-security prison. Launched in 2004, the church has a simple vision - “To BE the church and not just to DO church.”

“We want to see the kingdom of God outworked naturally 24/7,” James said. “If everything changed and suddenly the church had to go underground, if our buildings and our nice meetings disappeared, would our people still go on? We want our people to be strong enough in God that they are still hearing His voice. We are trying to encourage business people to build businesses in which God’s kingdom is evident.

“God wants to do His work through His people. The role of the Church is to equip people to do the work naturally throughout their lives.

Not just loving Jesus, but living it out day-today.”

One joy for James has been the opportunity to speak in the high security prison at Eastertime. “For years, we prayed almost every week for a chance to reach out to people in the prison and the door opened up!”

Limerick Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, Limerick’s biggest annual festival “River Fest” attracts thousands of visitors and locals alike for a feast of music, sports, food and fun. Each year, Abundant Life church takes part in the festival and this year, their Awakenings Youth Group won multiple prizes in the Barbecue “cook-off ” competition: 2nd prize for chicken, 3rd prize for beef, 3rd prize for fish and Overall Runner Up! “We buy loads of food and give it away.

It is a great way to connect with people,” explained Pastor Kevin Fitzgibbon. “We have done it for the last four or five years and it has been fabulous.”

The prize money as well as donations given on the day will all go to help fund the youth group’s mission trip to Poland this summer.

HUNGRY FOR GOD

Limerick Freddie O’Neill from Door of Hope shared how their church has set aside a month to pray and fast and seek God. “We want the Lord to move. The traditional answers are not really enough for people.

A lot of people are searching and they have no moral compass and yet there is still a hunger. There are so many needy people. We believe we need to stand back and see what God can do. We desperately need His presence and His power.”

CAFÉ CHURCH

Limerick Limerick Baptist Church recently launched an evening “café church”.

Edwin Tutty shares, “It has really attracted young people and students and seems to have hit a chord with them.

For people who can’t come to church on a Sunday morning, it is church! The young people lead the worship time so it is in the style that they like. Our minister teaches from the Bible but we have not put limits on the format. I’ve been learning that sometimes in churches we try to organise things too much. It is important to let go and let God. Café Church is still under the direction of the Holy Spirit but just a different style.”

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CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN STYLE!

Newcastle West, County Limerick St. Patrick’s Day provides a huge opportunity for Healing Streams Church in Newcastle West. Mary Hartney is involved in the arts and teaches dance to local disability groups. She explained, “Each year, we represent a Bible story in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. We are invited up on stage to tell the story behind our float and to sing a song. It is a great opportunity. This year our theme was “Daniel and the Lion’s Den”. We sang “By the Rivers of Babylon” and explained the story.”

The local Michael Harnett Literary and Arts Festival (celebrating the life and works of poet Michael Harnett) is another opportunity to engage with the community. This year, Mary led a dance performance called “If necessary use words…”

Connecting with these events has opened doors into the community and helped the church to build relationships with other local groups.

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NOT TOO REMOTE FOR GOD

Listowel, County Kerry With so much focus and attention on the bigger cities, it can be easy for those reaching out in more rural areas to feel isolated or forgotten. But God is at work! JP Walsh who has worked for 30 years with his wife Fidelma in the Listowel area of County Kerry has been encouraged by the new openness and hunger for the gospel that they are seeing.

He recounts, “About a year ago, I went to collect fuel for my house. I called into this farmer who lives in the middle

of a wood and when I was there, I saw an old lady come out of the house and start picking up bits of sticks. It moved my heart and I thought, ‘Lord, will the Gospel ever come down this road and find the homes here?’

“Two months ago that same lady’s daughter walked into our church. She had become a Christian and was moving back home. And she brought her mother to church! On her first day here I told her, ‘Don’t be afraid. We are just talking to God.’ She replied, ‘Man, I have been doing that all my life!’”

SMALL IS STILL IMPORTANT TO GOD

South Leitrim Rev. Linda Frost is responsible for 10 Church of Ireland churches across south County Leitrim.

It is a huge responsibility, which sees Linda leading between two and four services every Sunday and visiting people across a wide area of rural towns and villages.

But while it would be easy to become overwhelmed with the needs, Linda shares, “It is exciting to see the possibilities and the opportunities. God always sees possibilities.

We may be small as a church but small is still important to God. One person, showing the love of Christ can still have an effect that multiplies.

My personal vision would be to bring the light and the love of Christ wherever I go, whether that be in a church, in the community, in a school or a hospital.

“People are just looking for somebody who will accept them and love them as they are and then they open up to you. It is possible to make such a difference in people’s lives just by caring.”

One of Linda’s monthly tasks is to lead a simple communion service in the community hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon. It is a small gathering but it means so much to those who are able to meet with God on a Monday afternoon.

MORE EXCITING THAN EASTENDERS!

Bailieborough, County Cavan Rev Ian Horner is so excited when he sees people hungry for God’s word. “I was teaching on the story of Jacob for four weeks and people were glued to the stories.

It was like Eastenders. I would leave off each week on a bit of a cliff-hanger and people were desperate to know what happened next! When you hear Bible stories afresh, they are shocking and exciting. People are gripped by them.”

Caring for four churches in rural County Cavan, Ian shares, “People write the countryside off and think, ‘What can you do?’ I firmly believe these churches could fill up once again. They used to be full. I don’t see why that is not possible again.

“There are things happening [in rural Cavan] that you would not believe if you come from an urban centre. A local lady asked me to speak at a meeting in her home. We got there and the room was wedged [packed]. Catholics and Orangemen were sitting beside each other. There were kids and teenagers. This lady is in her 80s and her house is in the middle of nowhere. People meet once a month and there is a real hunger for the Word of God.” Ian and his wife Jennifer have been encouraged to hear the vision people have for their churches. “They want church to be accessible for everyone, young and old alike; to have a respect for diversity and be welcoming and massively hospitable. They want the church be known for vibrancy, Christlikeness and holy living. It is quite profound.”

Recently, 58 people from the churches took a day trip away. First stop was Sunday service at another church, which proved a tremendous opportunity for the congregation to see how things are done elsewhere and be inspired and challenged. The trip provoked lots of conversations and opened people’s eyes to different possibilities.

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NG FAITH

TOUR

FINDI

TAKING THE “LONG VIEW” OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN IRELAND

TREVOR HILL, ATHLONE, CO WESTMEATH

“You must be here for the long haul. You need to have the heart to serve your community. It is easy to get a crowd, but you don’t build with a crowd. You need to see people come through step by step.

“Trust is the currency of the kingdom. It takes time to build people’s trust. You have to earn the right to share your faith. My evangelism training taught me the answers to all the questions that nobody was asking. I would rather scratch where somebody is itching.

“There are people who have been praying for Athlone for years.

I think we are reaping some of the benefits of their prayers.”

LEGACY

One of the recurring themes of this year’s Finding Faith Tour was the challenge to pursue lasting fruit rather than “quick fixes”. Here are just a few comments from around the country plus a 250-year-old story!

NOEL KENNY, DUBLIN 8

“Persistence overcomes resistance. We need to keep at it and keep at it; if we keep sowing we will reap. I don’t have to be the one who sees it. We need to have a 100-year vision, passing it on from one generation to the next.

“I’m not looking for the ‘bright lights’ but for those who get knocked down but then get up again. People can trust you when you are in it for the long haul.”

LINDA FROST, SOUTH LEITRIM “We came over to the West of Ireland for two weeks and we felt this was where God wanted us to be. That was 30 years ago next year! Through many ups and downs we are still here, seeking to serve Irish Christians.”

JP WALSH, LISTOWEL, CO KERRY “Raising churches is not an overnight thing; it is a lifetime job. People from the bigger cities need to be prepared not to make forays into the country but to go and live there; to get embedded into the community.”

UNDER A HAWTHORN TREE

Rosaleen Dolan owns The Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon along with her husband Joe. She told VOX Editor Ruth GarveyWilliams about the special connection her family has with John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.

John Wesley visited Ireland 21 times between 1747 and 1789. In 1762, he stayed at the home of Mr Glover Laird of Killukin while visiting Carrick-on-Shannon. He preached under a hawthorn tree in front of the Laird home and autographed the family Bible. Rosaleen shared, “That Bible stayed in the family until 1925 when it mysteriously disappeared.”

The Lairds of Killukin remained Methodists for many generations following Wesley’s visit until one member of the family married into the Church of Ireland.

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MICHAEL O’CONNELL, NEWCASTLE WEST, CO LIMERICK “A lot of time, working in a rural town is hard enough. We need to keep going and be faithful.

We experience lovely highlights but we need to keep the long view. People are sick of quick fixes.”

ETHIOPIA IS IN THE GRIP OF ITS WORST DROUGHT FOR DECADES

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Hundreds of thousands of children like Emnet are severely malnourished.

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____________________________ EQUIPPING THE CHURCH FOR EFFECTIVE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

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Mary Jackson is the visionary of Amazing Kidsʼ Ministry. As Pastor, it is her belief that there should be no wasted days in the spiritual life of a child. Her creative genius inspires her team to communicate biblical truths through weekly lessons that minister to over 7,000 each week. Maryʼs motto is “Have fun and learn about God” and this is the driving force behind the ministry. As the first childrenʼs ministry staff member at Gateway Church, Mary has 15 years of leading and developing this ministry to the heights it has become. Married to Ken Jackson for 39 years, they have three grown daughters who are a both leading in childrenʼs ministry and have six adorable grandchildren.

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LIFE

Derry’s new band “I AM” is singing for God’s glory

passionate about worship

aster Day 2016 and young vocal group has a distinctive musical people are streaming into style of its own with stunning Derry’s stunning 19th arrangements of worship classics such WE ARE SIX SINGERS WHO FIND OURSELVES as “Days of Elijah” and “This is Amazing century theatre venue - St. Columb’s Hall. But this is not the Grace”. Backed by competent musicians, HUNGRY TO LEARN AND GROW IN HIS WAY. popular City of Derry Jazz Festival the group understands that worship is or yet another awards ceremony! not just about great music.

The huge audience (450 people) has “This is something more - people are come for the debut concert of new worship band, “I AM.” And so hungry and so willing to participate. It is the Holy Spirit at it doesn’t take long before they are singing and dancing along to work,” shares Marie-Therese Martin (31) who had the vision for the songs of praise. the group after spending a year with Hillsong in Sydney.

Although inspired by Australia’s Hillsong, the six-person “The vision was formed before I came home. I even knew the names of the people I wanted in the band.”

Arriving back in the city where she grew up, Marie Therese quickly gathered together five other young singers who were also passionate about their faith - her cousin Joseph Carlin (30), sisters Bethany (21) and Lauren (23) Doherty, Charlene McDaid (23) and 19-year-old Conor McLain.

“I want to plant seeds of faith in the hearts of young people in the city,” Marie Therese explains. “People have stopped going to church.

Maybe it is because we are not communicating in a language that they understand. People are bored so they have walked

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away. We want to find another way for them to hear God’s message.

“It all happened very quickly and naturally and within three months we were on stage with our first concert - ‘I AM Alive’.”

A MESSAGE OF LOVE

“We want to bring others to walk equally with us. We might be the ones singing out loud but we stand side by side with our followers.”

In Joseph’s personal faith journey, he says, “Over the years I’ve had a few stumbles and met a few hurdles. When I couldn’t and didn’t want to lift my legs, He just pulled me over them.”

Conor, the youngest member of the group, overflows with enthusiasm. Worship for him is about communicating with God. “It is my way of praying,” he shares. Passionate about his faith, Conor has been singing at mass for years and he’s not shy about sharing his love for God with others.

For Charlene, a serious illness and a brush with death brought her closer to Jesus and now she sings worship songs out of gratitude for the second chance at life that she has received.

The Easter concert came at a critical time for Derry city - still grieving the tragedy in nearby Buncrana just one week earlier when five members of the same Derry family drowned in a terrible accident.

Conscious of the mood of the city, the band dedicated their concert as an expression of love for the family. “There was an attitude of gratitude throughout the city,” Marie Therese shared. “You held onto your family that bit tighter. The concert seemed to come at just the right time.”

The appropriately-named Easter concert was followed by another sell out in June - “I AM Free.” A third concert is ACROSS THE DIVIDES planned for Christmastime called “I AM Present.”

While Derry is often perceived as a divided city, “I AM” is The band members have started to write their own songs committed to bringing people together from both sides of the and are hoping to get into a studio river and from across traditional to record their first album soon. And denominational divides. inspired, in part, by VOX magazine’s “The heart of what we are Finding Faith Tour, they are planning WE WANT TO MAKE JESUS FAMOUS AND WE ARE doing is for God’s glory. We want to tour Ireland with worship concerts to make Jesus famous and we are TRYING TO ALIGN OUR LIFE’S PURPOSE AND OUR trying to align our life’s purpose and in different locations next summer. our passion to serve that greater PASSION TO SERVE THAT GREATER PURPOSE. TOGETHER IN THE JOURNEY purpose,” Marie Therese explains.

That picture of a journey is an “Our dream would be that we can important one. Joseph explains, “We spend our life doing this!” don’t consider ourselves great leaders people should aspire to In fact, Marie Therese would love Ireland to become as be like. We are the same as everyone else: sometimes blind to famous for worship music as America or Australia. Follow the the journey, lost, hopeful and at times guilty of failing Him. But I AM Worship Band on Facebook or email iamworship.info@ we are six singers who find ourselves hungry to learn and grow gmail.com. in His way.

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REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

We are Messengers Anyone who regularly listens to Christian radio or browses the CD stands in your local Christian book and music store, will quickly realise that the vast majority of Christian music comes out of the USA, and to a certain extent the UK. Ireland has, however, produced a number of excellent musicians such as Keith and Kristyn Getty, Brian Houston, Rend Collective and Robin Mark to mention a few. But none have exploded onto the scene with such suddenness and power as a new band from Monaghan who are currently taking America by storm: We Are Messengers.

Their debut self-titled album is a top ten new entry in the Billboard Christian Music charts, and as I write, is a number one hit in Australia. Fronted by former Remission

Flow lead singer Darren Mulligan, We Are Messengers is probably one of the best bands to have come from these shores in recent years.

The album, on the prestigious Word label, is one of the best-produced albums I have listened to in a long time. It grabs you from the very first song; Everything Comes Alive, which once heard will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. At long last, the Irish are taking the Christian music scene by storm, but more importantly, they are bringing Christ’s message of salvation to a needy world.

In Darren Mulligan, God indeed has a powerful new messenger. Check them out on www. wearemessengersmusic.com.

Children of God

God is on the move

In 2014, Phil Wickham was diagnosed with a vocal polyp, which required treatment that included total silence for a month, with no guarantee that he’d ever sing again. Two years later, he has not only recovered, but he is back with a new album that exceeds anything he has recorded to date. There is a new energy and a new confidence here that will infect listeners. I have always liked his music, and many of his songs have found their way onto my radio playlist, including his massive hit, “This is Amazing Grace.”

Many of Phil Wickham’s songs are anthems that we already sing in church on Sundays, and there are a few on this new album that will be appearing on hymn sheets and lyric screens in the future. The album focuses on the faithfulness and goodness of God. It will provide you with your own personal, uplifting, and invigorating worship experience. Tracks like Better Than Life, Your Love Awakens Me, and The Secret Place, will make you want to jump up and dance, but if you want to get right to the heart of worship then Starmaker, Stand In Awe, and Spirit of God, will take you there as you listen and close your eyes.

“Any time a heart turns from darkness to light. Any time temptation comes and someone stands to fight. Any time somebody lives to serve and not be served. I know, I know, I know, God is on the move.” These are the opening lyrics of the title track of the new album, God Is On The Move, by 7eventh Time Down. This, their third album in six years, in my opinion is the one that is finally going to see them hailed as one of the most important bands on the Christian music scene today. More refined, and dare I say, a little softer than their previous albums, this is melodic rock at its very best.

The note of reassurance that sounds from the opening track is matched and reinforced by the final song, Promises, and in between there are nine tracks that deliver a passionate punch aimed at shaking us out of our reverie and preparing us to take the next step in our journey. No matter where that journey may take us, we are assured that God is moving right along with us, every step of the way. A brilliant album.

Phil Wickham

7eventh Time Down

Music Review by Vincent Hughes from UCB Radio, an Irish Christian radio station that broadcasts 24/7. You can listen on DAB Radio in Dublin and Cork, on SKY Channel 0214, UPC (TV) Channel 918, and online at www.ucb.ie.

Contact UCB Ireland at ucbireland@gmail.com, 01 4299899, or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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EVENTS

VOX MAGAZINE

Events Calendar What’s happening where and when July Summer Madness 1 - 5 July Glenarm Estate, Co. Antrim www.summermadness.co.uk/ festival Sligo 16 10 - 15 July Sligo Institute of Technology www.newwineireland.org Holy Ghost Rally Saturday, 16 July Citywest Convention Centre www.rccgireland.org

Amazing Kids Leadership Summit 12 - 13 August Open Arms Church, Newbridge www.openarms.ie

Children’s Ministry Training Day Saturday, 24 September The Riasc Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin www.tntministries.org.uk/ireland

The Voice of My Beloved Saturday, 13 August Killarney thevoiceofmybeloved.com

November Evangelical Alliance Ireland National Forum Saturday, 12 November Dublin www.evangelical.ie

Angus Buchan in Kilkenny Wednesday, 24 August The Hub, Kilkenny www.togetherforireland.com

August New Horizon 2016 6 - 12 August Coleraine, Co. Derry www.newhorizonni.org.uk

September Church in Chains Conference Saturday, 10 September Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley www.churchinchains.ie

go dtaga do ríocht . . . your kingdom come

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Visit www.vox.ie/events for a more up-to-date event listing.

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

CHURCH IN CHAINS CONFERENCE Sat 10 September 11am – 4pm Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley, Dublin

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Rev Dr Soja Bewerang (Nigeria) Rev Soja is an experienced church leader and will speak about Christians in northern Nigeria living under constant threat from Boko Haram

ALL WELCOME – ADMISSION FREE Children’s Programme (book in advance) Info: www.churchinchains.ie or 01-2825393

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REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

The Insanity of God

by Nik Ripken Reviewed by Alastair Kerr from OM Ireland

by Eugene Peterson Reviewed by Ana Mullan

Using one of the lines from the poem

by Gerald Manley Hopkins, Peterson explores in depth Christ’s role in creation, history and community. Comparing passages from Old and New Testament, he helps the reader realise that God’s activity has been and continues to be involved in every aspect of the world that He has created. This is not a new book, but it is a book for all times. It is the first in the series on spiritual theology. For Peterson, theology is not something that is studied and mastered with our heads but with our lives. It is a gem and it might take a while to be able to read it. Don’t be in a hurry to finish it but allow the truths in it to take deep root in your heart.

Eugene Peterson is a retired pastor, a scholar and poet. Mainly known through his famous translation “The Message”.

Having had the privilege of meeting him and his wife, I can say that he lives what he writes.

The Insanity of God, recommended to me by a colleague, is a thought-provoking book of two parts. The first looks at Nik and his family’s journey to and ministry in wartorn Somaliland, where they endured hardship, persecution and personal loss. The second part is Nik’s journey of discovery to countries where Christians have suffered great persecution, helping him to make sense of his experiences in Somaliland. This book is not for ‘safe’ Christians or those interested in pursuing their own comfort. Nik puts it well when he says “Perhaps the question should not be, ‘Why are others persecuted?’ Perhaps the better question is ’Why are we not?’” This book will challenge you and open a boldness in your spirit.

Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People

by Nadia Bolz-Weber Reviewed by Anne Baenziger from Innovista Ireland The raw accounts of Nadia’s deeply genuine stories hit a cord that made me think about my life, my faith, what I believe and the way in which I live. This book had me awkwardly laughing out loud and then a few pages later, on the verge of tears because of its honesty, its humanity, and its humour. Nadia writes from her experiences whether bad or good, mistakes or victories, which allows the reader to see their own churches, communities and even themselves in the pages. Nadia challenges us to live out of the truth that, “what makes us the saints of God is not our ability to be saintly but rather God’s ability to work through sinners.”

We love to receive readers’ book reviews!

Send in your short review to editor@vox.ie and we will use as many as we can in the magazine or online at www.vox.ie.

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AND THE WINNER IS...

BY SEÁN MULLAN

onfession time – I don’t like Here’s the nub of the problem. Award awards and award competitions. competitions create artificial categories and From the Oscars to the Grammys, then attempt to decide which is the most from Glamorous Granny to successful member of that category. That the Bonniest Baby in Banaher, it all seems may be harmless when it comes to relatively contrived. And if you’re thinking, “I bet he trivial things like films, books and blogs. But never wins anything!” then you’re right. I when we do it with people, it’s altogether a don’t. But nor do most people. And that’s different ball of wax. my point.

Awards are a set-up. The process usually involves gathering talented or beautiful or hard-working people who have done something worthwhile and then turning most of them into losers. From being good at what they do, they become “the ones who didn’t win.” The Oscars at least have the saving grace of only having four losers in most categories. The Rose of Tralee produces 31! Every year! Thirty-one women from all over the world who, despite all their guff about having a wonderful time, end up not being good enough – “there’s only one Rose of Tralee, love, and it wasn’t you.”

There are now so many awards that someone must have developed a theory on “award disorder.” I am certain that somewhere, there is an academic engaged in research on the sociological and psychological effects of award ceremonies The notion that we can put people on the losers. I tried googling it but all I into a category and measure them against found was awards for eating disorder blogs. one another is an utter nonsense. People Yes, there are awards for the best eating are at their best when they are doing the disorder blogs. In fact, one thing that nobody even in the small world else in the world is able to of Irish blogs there are do – being themselves. To BE AN ARTIST OF THE EVERYDAY. reduce people and their awards for blogs in 24 categories. achievements into categories Many awards are that can be judged and voted really competitions on is a bizarre inversion to see who can persuade the most people of that wonderful reality. It is a product to vote for them. Imagine an award that of a society that seems intent on getting admitted it – “And the award for the best everyone to be the same and convince us all arm-twisting, incessant-nagging, votethat the skill of living well belongs only to an wringing friend-hassler goes to…” By now elite of experts.

I’ve probably become too cynical for most If you’re a regular reader of this column VOX readers. And I’ve lost any chance of then you know I’m a bit of a fan of Jesus and ever winning the VOX “Best Columnist His way of living . One of the reasons for of the Year” Award. (You still have time to my admiration is His utter refusal to allow vote!) But there is a significant point coming people to be shoved into categories and if you’re willing to persevere. judged by the religious, social or political

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elites of His day. And the ordinary people of His time loved Him for that. Many signed up as apprentices of the Jesus’ way of learning how to live your own life; how to be yourself.

A phrase I read recently from seasoned Jesus-follower, Eugene Peterson, has captivated me. He writes of how people can move from living distracted, conditioned

lives to becoming “artists of the everyday” - living life at their best.

Now there’s an invitation. Be an artist of the everyday. Get into your life, your world, your relationships, your tasks and give them everything you’ve got. And at the end of that day you may have a chance to sit down with a friend or two around a table and discuss how your everyday creativity went. Or perhaps you’ll be alone, no one to tell, yet aware, if you’re lucky, that someone was always watching. And that will be all the award you’ll need or want.

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

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www.CarraigEden Foundation.com Carraig Eden Campaign JULY - SEP 2016 VOX

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