The largest spiritual migration in history

www.eauk.org/idea
T H E M AG A Z I N E O F T H E E VA N G E L I C A L A L L I A N C E
The largest spiritual
migration in history:
how unprecedented numbers in the
Muslim world are turning to Christ
MAHABBA
Churches working
together to bring the
gospel to Muslims
THEOLOGY
60 SECONDS
COLLECTION
QUESTION
Should churches tithe?
We explore the biblical principle
GOOD QUESTION
BIG INTERVIEW
WELCOMING THE
CONVERT
Lessons learnt from working
across faiths to achieve freedom
CONNECT
The 9-5
JULY/AUGUST 2015
NEWS
COMMENT
FEATURES
IDEA MAGAZINE / 2
CONTENTS
Amaris Cole: It seems like we are in a key period
for the Islamic faith, but that God is doing
something amazing in the midst of it all…
idea-torial
A welcoming
community
IS, Al Qaeda and Boko Haram have
dominated the media recently, with
many of the international stories we’ve
covered on the Alliance website being focused on
the devastation and terror these extremist groups are
causing. It can seem like a desperate situation, so how
should Christians react?
The number of people identifying themselves as
Muslim in the UK has grown by almost 70 per cent
in 10 years, from 1.6 million in 2001 to 2.7 million in
2011. Experts estimate this will increase further to 5.5
million by 2020. One member of the Alliance sees the
spread of Islam as an opportunity to bring the gospel
to a new group of people searching for the truth.
The Mahabba Network is passionate about motivating
and mobilising everyday Christians to love their
Muslim neighbours. They’re helping churches to
mentor and multiply new communities of Muslim
converts. We share the incredible work they are doing
in the UK on pages 26 and 27.
FIVE THINGS I
DIDN’T KNOW
UNTIL THIS
ISSUE
70 per cent of
evangelicals
donate to a
foodbank
The UK Muslim
population has
increased by
70 per cent in
10 years
This is a subject that many of our readers will feel
strongly about. We welcome your comments and
questions on the issues that arise while discussing the
Islamic faith and our response.
Amaris Cole
Editor
We’re on Twitter!
Follow us @idea_mag
14-15 Good news for the poor?
Our latest survey looks at poverty and inequality
24-25 Welcoming the convert
Christians and Muslims working together
for religious freedom
26-27 Mahabba
Churches working together to reach Muslims in the UK
REGULARS
4-6 Connect
News from across the UK Evangelical Alliance
11 The 9 – 5
The Muslim
world is seeing
the “largest
turning” in
A day in the life of Jamie Oliver’s food stylist
history to
Christianity
18-19 Big Interview
Blur still has
a superfan –
new boy Gavin
Calver
22-23 In the thick of it
All about
Bishop Ef
We also hear from David Garrison, author of A
Wind in the House of Islam, on what he’s calling the
“greatest turning in history”. The 21st century has seen
unprecedented numbers of Muslims coming to faith
in Jesus Christ and believers’ baptisms in the Muslim
world. Turn to page 30 for more.
It seems like we are in a key period for the Islamic faith,
but that God is doing something amazing in the midst
of it all. The Evangelical Alliance in Wales is playing a
vital role by working with the Muslim community to
ensure that all followers are free in their faith – and free
to convert. On pages 24 and 25, Jim Stewart explains
his work in insuring religious freedom for the nation.
FEATURES
12 60 Seconds with…
Meet Gavin Calver, one of the
Alliance’s new directors
10
Bishop Efraim Tendero
on the World
Evangelical Alliance
Children’s ministry
and all-age worship
36 From the Archive
A story about Clive Calver
and his young son Gavin…
Raising up leaders
11
Leaders’ Question –
stories they didn’t teach
you at Sunday School
The 9 – 5
Head Office
Evangelical Alliance has moved:
Email address changes to
[email protected]
176 Copenhagen Street,
London N1 0ST
tel 020 7520 3830
[Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm]
fax 020 7520 3850
[email protected]
www.eauk.org
Northern Ireland Office
First Floor Ravenhill House
105 Ravenhill Road,
Belfast BT6 8DR
tel: 028 9073 9079
[email protected]
Evangelical Alliance
leadership team
Steve Clifford, Helen Calder,
Gavin Calver , Fred Drummond,
Elfed Godding, Dave Landrum,
Peter Lynas, Chine Mbubaegbu
32
Wales Office
20 High Street,
Cardiff CF10 1PT
tel: 029 2022 9822
[email protected]
Scotland Office
Evangelical Alliance Scotland,
Blair Court, 100 Borron Street,
Port Dundas, Glasgow, G4 9XG
tel: 0141 353 0150
[email protected]
The Evangelical Alliance. A company limited by guarantee Registered in England & Wales No. 123448.
Registered Charity No England and Wales: 212325, Scotland: SC040576.
Registered Office: 176 Copenhagen Street, London, N1 0ST
JULY/AUGUST 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 3
CONNECT
News from the Alliance across the UK
Just one in four people still
believe religion is a force
for good in the world.
It’s time to tell the real story. Will you give a gift to tell
the Church’s good news?
Many of you will have received our latest appeal, asking for your support to help champion
God’s good news people: the Church. As evangelicals, we believe we are the good news
people, sharing Jesus’ love in our communities. But so often the rest of society doesn’t see us
as good news. In fact, more often than not it’s the opposite.
But you could help change this. Your support can put Christians in the news for a
different reason.
It’s a two-fold solution that needs your support:
1.
You can help put good news stories in the media. With your help, our press office can
tackle ignorance about Christianity and give voice to where evangelicals are making a
difference.
2.
You can help equip and resource Christians to be the good news people we know we
are. Your support will fund excellent resources, such as idea magazine, daily web articles
and research reports on the evangelical population.
We need your help now, not just to continue as we have done, but to step up and do
more to reshape the image of the Christian faith.
So please give a gift today – visit eauk.org/summerappeal or ring 0207 520 3848.
How did you
become a
Christian?
At the Alliance, we’re passionate about
mission and inspired when we hear
stories of people coming to faith. We’d
love to hear your testimonies – whether
you became a Christian 50 years ago
or last week; whether at a Billy Graham
crusade or through Fresh Expressions. We
will be featuring some of our favourites
in the upcoming magazines. Visit eauk.
org/testimonies to add your story.
Taster Days
The Alliance is looking to hold Taster Days
for prospective church members of the
Alliance in the next few months, to tell
them a bit about what we do and what
membership looks like. If you know of
anyone who might be interested, please
email [email protected]
IDEA MAGAZINE / 4
New-look Gather
Our network of local unity
for mission movement,
Gather, has gone through
a makeover. Following
the success of our
GatherNORTH conference
in March, where Christians
from across the business,
politics, arts and media
got together to discuss transformation, there’s
been lots going on at Gather, including a new
look website. Check out the new website and
consider becoming a regular supporter of
Gather’s work – gatherglobal.co.uk
Did you
know
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CONNECT
Connecting mentors to
grow leaders
A new partnership initiative will link church
and ministry leaders to mentors to grow and
develop their leadership skills.
CPAS, Evangelical Alliance and Stewardship
have joined together to provide an online
gateway for connecting leaders that
are looking for mentors with skilled and
selected mentors.
Mentor Connect was launched due to the
difficulties that many were having to find
someone suitable. It is designed for those
in leadership positions or area leadership
roles within churches and those in senior
leadership of Christian organisations.
“Many Christian leaders are excited about
the opportunities for mission and ministry
the Church has at this time, but they can also
be daunted by the increasing expectations
on them or feel isolated,” said Roger Sutton
of the Evangelical Alliance. “Mentoring
is one way of providing a supportive
and encouraging environment. Focused
around development, mentoring provides
space for reflection, growth, learning,
support, encouragement, perspective and
accountability.”
Mentor Connect focuses its mentoring
on three areas: personal development,
missional leadership and leading well with
others, and has aims of developing leaders
and growing churches.
Through the website potential mentees can
connect with carefully selected mentors,
read their profiles, and approach them.
cpas.org.uk/mentorconnect
New video celebrating our unity in diversity
At the Evangelical Alliance we are passionate
about unity, and we believe we cannot be
truly united unless we represent the UK
Church in all its vibrancy. It’s why we started
the One People Commission – a body of key
national leaders committed to celebrating
ethnicity while promoting unity.
We’ve produced an inspiring video featuring
members of our One People Commission
talking about the importance of unity and
working together. On the video, Bishop Eric
Brown says: “One of the greatest initiatives
in recent years in Christendom in this
country is the formation of the One People
Commission, instigated by the Evangelical
Alliance… for we believe that we can
spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
better and more effectively when we do it
together.”
Watch the video online at
eauk.org/opcunity
Handling stress
in 21st century
Wales
A recent lunchtime event in Cardiff tackling stress
and burnout attracted many of the city’s church
leaders. Hosted by local networking organisation
The Net Cardiff in association with Evangelical
Alliance Wales, three speakers addressed the
subjects of stress and burnout among church
leaders. This was followed by a question and answer session with a wider panel of speakers.
Gethin Russell-Jones, pastor of Rhiwbina Baptist Church and one of the speakers, said: “Stress
and burnout affect so many church leaders but they are too often treated like taboo subjects.
This event looked at the issues from a variety of angles, helping people to identity the
symptoms of stress and also how to prevent stress taking root in the first place. As much as
anything else, the event reassured people that they’re not alone in ministry and that help is at
hand.
For more support for those in Christian leadership, subscribe to idea for leaders, our bi-monthly
e-magazine, by visiting eauk.org/signup
JULY/AUGUST 2015
Five prayer
points for the
UK Alliance
We’ve learnt a lot from this issue of
idea, and we’ve also been praying
as we’ve met some wonderful
people, heard about some amazing
organisations and been challenged
by deep theology. Will you join us
in praying for these five things this
summer?:
1.
We’re delighted that Gavin Calver
has just joined the Alliance as
director of mission. Please pray
for him as he settles in and raises
the profile of the Church’s mission
agenda.
2.
Please pray for churches in
Scotland as they use the What
Kind of Church? resource to
begin conversations across the
nation on God’s calling on the
Church.
3.
Give thanks for the wonderful
work done by many churches and
Christian organisations working
with children across the UK and
pray that God would strengthen
them in all their work.
4.
Join with us in praying for
interfaith relationships and the
work done by many who witness
to Muslims, pray that many would
come to faith in Jesus.
5.
Pray for the Alliance as we
journey to a number of summer
festivals and conferences to build
unity, raise up Christian leaders
and reach out to the millennial
generation.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 5
CONNECT
News from the Alliance across the UK
Ignite the message in Wales
One of Wales’ premier Christian youth work
organisations has decided to dramatically
alter its course. After a few decades of
ministry based near Cardiff, Ignite will
become Message Wales.
About 20 years ago, Gary Smith and Nigel
James, who were both working for the Boys
Brigade, had a vision to mobilise a new
generation of young Christian disciples in
south Wales.
Gary said: “We were passionate about
reaching people, particularly young people.
But we soon realised that many young
people seemed to be half-hearted about
their faith and certainly half-hearted when it
came to sharing their faith with their friends
who were not yet Christians.”
Although Ignite became well-known
throughout the UK for events and
evangelism, the core of its identity lay in a six
point agreement that people signed as they
caught this vision of radical discipleship.
From Ignite’s modest beginnings, Gary
forged a bond with Andy Hawthorne,
founder of Manchester based World Wide
Message Tribe (WWMT). Last November, as
The Message was growing, Gary asked God
what His plans were for Wales.
Then came an offer to The Message from
Gary: “What if I invited you up to Wales? Now
that was never on my agenda, that’s not
why I went to meet him. And when Andy
remarked that it would be a partnership I
said no it will be more like a takeover. We
share so much DNA. We’re passionate about
the same things; about evangelism, about
the poor and the poorest of the poor. And it
seemed to me that the things that God has
called us to do in this nation, we can do a lot
quicker if we do them together.”
The Message had
hosted a prayer
day a week
earlier, bringing
together its
workers and
volunteers from
across the UK. As Gary Smith of Ignite
news of global
opportunities emerged, a tearful musician
from Wales prayed passionately that Wales
would not be overlooked in God’s plans.
The day before Gary and Andy’s meeting,
one of the Message’s Directors asked Andy
how they should respond to this Welsh plea.
Everything was coming together.
Gary invited The Message to start a new work
in the nation, and from September 2015 this
year Ignite will change its name and identity
and become Message Wales.
Religious freedom in Northern Ireland
Religious freedom has been under fire in
Northern Ireland, with the NI Alliance’s
advocacy team playing a key role in the
debate.
In a ruling with far-reaching implications, a
judge decided in May that business owners
cannot choose which goods and services
they can supply. The judge ruled that the
McArthur family, who run Ashers bakery,
were not entitled to decline to make a cake
with an iced slogan supporting same-sex
marriage and in doing so were guilty of
discrimination.
Stornoway election
hustings
As part of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland
programme helping churches to engage
in the general election, the Alliance took
a trip to Stornoway to host a hustings for
local churches. This was a really successful
event bringing together local people from
a number of different churches. It was
widely covered by the local media, as well
as helping the Alliance build on existing
relationships with churches in the Western
Isles. The Alliance is committed to serving
the Church right across Scotland, so it was
great to be able to facilitate this event. The
Scotland team also supported a number of
similar events run by churches in Inverness,
Edinburgh, East Renfrewshire and East
Dunbartonshire.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 6
Peter Lynas, a former barrister and Northern
Ireland director of Evangelical Alliance,
commented: “This judgment will cause great
concern for all those in business. It turns out
the customer is always right and businesses
have no discretion in deciding which goods
and services to produce. The law rightly
protects people from discrimination, but it
has now extended that protection to ideas.”
Peter said it will “no doubt lead to further
calls to change the law.”
Daniel McArthur outside Belfast County Court.
Photo credit: Christian Institute
The family-run bakery is now appealing the
decision. To find out more about the case
and the issues it examines, watch the video
by the NI Alliance – vimeo.com/128302080
Glasgow
prayer breakfast
Scottish
public leader
In May, Alliance Scotland continued
the recent trend of hosting city prayer
breakfasts for church leaders with
an event in Glasgow. Coming from
a request by leaders themselves it
was great to bring Christian leaders
together to pray for each other and
the many needs of Scotland’s biggest
city. “We hope and pray that as a
result of this meeting a group of
leaders will start to develop a regular
prayer network for the city,” said
Kieran Turner, public policy officer of
the Alliance Scotland.
The Alliance Scotland has had a number
of really positive meetings over recent
months as it works to develop the
Scottish Public Leader programme. As
part of the Alliance’s Public Leadership
initiative this programme will seek
to train, mentor and provide peer
support to emerging leaders in different
cultural spheres of Scottish life such as
business, politics, media and the arts.
The response to the idea from both
existing and emerging leaders has been
phenomenal, so please pray for the
project and the working group that is
taking this forward towards a planned
pilot in 2016.
News from the Alliance
JULY/AUGUST 2015
CONNECT
IDEA MAGAZINE / 7
AROUND THE WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE
News from the evangelical
Church across the world
Refugees in Canada
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
A research partnership called the Centre
for Community Based Research has
produced a new resource providing
information and practical strategies for
Canadian congregations working with and
supporting immigrants and refugees. This
guide has been designed for churches who
have been working with immigrants for
years and those new to this ministry, and
promises to help congregations reach out
in an effective way. The EFC participated in
the immigrant integration and settlement
research, on which the guide is based.
Download a free copy of Immigrants,
Refugees, and Canadian Churches: An
Interdenominational Guide to Action by
visiting communitybasedresearch.ca/
Page/View/Guide_to_Action
World Evangelical Alliance
The WEA has released a Christian response to
the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean,
written by Thomas Albinson, the WEA’s
ambassador for refugees, displaced and
stateless people, based on Psalm 107:4
– 8. The response comes after the death
of many people fleeing Africa in a bid to
reach Europe, often via Italian shores. “As
Christians, we need to avoid falling prey to
those trying to manipulate public opinion by
inciting fear. When we picture the women,
children and men coming across the sea,
we must not envision them as potential
terrorists and criminals. The truth is that the
majority are seeking refuge from terrorists,
violence, war and persecution. They are
the threatened ones,” the statement reads.
“Because the refugee narrative flows from
cover to cover through the Bible, we can
see that God is often powerfully at work in
and through the lives of forcibly displaced
people.” Read the full report on
worldea.org/news
The United States National
Association of Evangelicals
Americans evaluate churches based on their
friendliness, children’s programmes, worship
music, sermons and pastors according to
the February Evangelical Leaders Survey.
US evangelical leaders were asked to list
three criteria that Americans prioritise when
choosing a church. While there was a variety
of answers, 80 per cent of the responses
fell into the categories of friendliness – 19
percent; children’s programmes – 19 per
cent; worship music – 16 per cent; sermons
– 14 per cent and pastors - 12 per cent.
Leith Anderson, president of the National
Association of Evangelicals (NAE), said: “The
question asks why people choose a church.
The answer is that there is no one answer.
People choose churches for very different
reasons. There are even differences in the
most common answers — friendliness,
children’s programmes and worship music,
come in wide varieties.”
Association of Evangelicals
in Africa
Refugees rescued from the Mediterranean.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 8
The Association reports with “shock and
dismay” distress calls from church leaders
in Niger, concerning attacks targeting
Christians. “As this is happening, we continue
to reel at the news coming out of Nigeria;
killings of people and annihilation of entire
villages and towns in Northern Nigeria
by Boko Haram jihadists.” The Association
condemns these attacks and killings and
calls on the African Union and the Security
Council of the United Nations “not to sit by
and watch these heinous crimes continue”.
Reports claim these attacks are connected
with the Charlie Hebdo saga in Paris. The
Association said: “But the question is; what
do God-fearing people do in the face of
provocation? As a religion of peace, how do
you promote peace in conflict and adversity?
Can we only be peaceful when there is no
conflict? Given the whole debate about the
self-professed Islamic jihadist not being
true Muslims, should the real Muslims not
be circumspect in the way they vent out
their anger; different from those who are
supposedly claiming the Islamic religion
falsely?”
European Evangelical Alliance
Dedicated teens under the leadership
of Gennadiy Mokhnenko, a pastor and a
co-founder of the charity World Without
Orphans, crossed Ukraine four years ago on
bikes to spread the message of adoption.
Many of the riders were former orphans
and street children themselves. The group
has now decided to ride around the world.
Last summer they reached Vladivostok, a
Russian city on Pacific Ocean. They have
ridden for over 15,000 kilometres, inspiring
families to open their heart and homes for
the parentless, mobilizing churches, and
engaging media and the government. One
of the riders said: “I was an orphan once,
but now I have a father and a mother. My
dream is for every orphan to experience
the same.” Hundreds of children in Ukraine
and Russia have parents now because of
the group’s efforts. This summer the group
is heading west and will ride halfway across
Europe, starting on 10 July in Kyiv, Ukraine,
and finishing in September in Stuttgart,
Germany. To learn more about the European
part of the tour in 2015, write to info@
worldwithoutorphans.org. To learn more
about fostering and adoption in the UK,
contact Alliance member Home For Good by
visiting homeforgood.org.uk.
JULY/AUGUST 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 9
PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
by Daniel Webster
Churches have got a lot
better in recent years at
having a broader horizon
of what mission is, seeing
all sectors and places as
the necessary destination
of missionaries, from
the classroom to the
boardroom. But in practice
we sometimes still act
as though mission is
something only certain
people are sent to do.
We need people in all sectors of society to
hear the good news of Jesus Christ, and
for this to happen we need Christians in
all the sectors. Yet, although proximity for
evangelism is essential, we also need to
understand that it’s not the only form of
mission. When we exercise leadership and
take on responsibility, as we operate under
God’s authority, we are also acting with
His authority. And in doing so we have the
opportunity to contribute to God’s coming
kingdom.
When we pray in the Lord’s Prayer: “His
kingdom come, His will be done, on
earth as it is in heaven”, we should also
be challenged to match our prayers with
action. Throughout the Bible we are given
a mandate to be involved in the ongoing
work of creation, it started with our creation
in God’s own image, continued through the
command to go out into creation naming
animals and became ever more necessary
in a world bearing the scars of the fall.
There are authorities that we exist under,
and realms where authority is crucial and
warranted, but there is a broader realm
where worldly authorities do not reach and
God’s overarching reign rules supreme – this
is what Jesus meant when he said: “Give to
Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is
God’s.”
All of this means that Christians should see
leadership in public life as a vital part of
mission, and an important way of helping
the world glimpse the coming kingdom
that one day will be revealed in full. Just as
we now see something of God’s goodness
when the sick are healed, the orphans cared
for and the hungry fed, we can help the
world see something of what God’s eventual
IDEA MAGAZINE / 10
Public Leadership
is mission
… so the Church
needs to disciple
public leaders
perfect rule will be like when we take on
leadership and exercise authority while
under the authority of God, for example if
we are chief executives, school governors or
local councillors.
This also poses a challenge for churches.
Very practically, if people’s primary place
of mission and leadership is outside the
structures and services of a local church,
they will have less time and capacity to
contribute to those churches. An initial
step for discipling public leaders could see
churches encouraging their best leaders
to perhaps not take on leadership within
the life of the church. This also means
recognising the demands some roles may
make on their time; mid-week meetings, for
example, might be practically impossible.
A second response for churches should
be to understand what public leaders are
doing and the opportunities for mission
their leadership presents. This means church
leaders providing space for public leaders
to talk about what they do and to be prayed
for by the church. And it should also be
a prompt for public leaders to meet with
others doing similar roles who are likely to
understand the particular challenges and
pressures they face. This isn’t an opt out from
the life of the church but a recognition that
the discipleship challenges for public leaders
are likely to be different and therefore will
require taking time to understand.
Many church leaders are unlikely to be
aware of what it is like to be in a position of
leadership within business, media, politics
or any other sector – all places in need of
good leadership – and this means there is
the potential for disconnection between
public leaders and the Church. Public leaders
need churches that give them space when
it is required, that seek understanding, but
vitally, also work hard to encourage them
and to include them in the life of the church.
The theological understanding for why
Christians should be engaged in society
has filtered through the church over
recent years. The role of the Church in
local communities is abundant and vital.
It is serving those who need it most and
providing a witness to the life giving
work of Christ. But where our theological
rubber really hits the road is when we take
on leadership in society – when we take
responsibility to transform things for the
glory of God.
By giving attention to how the Church
disciples public leaders, we can put flesh
onto these theological bones - if that’s not
one metaphor too many. By showing what
public leaders contribute to the mission of
God and working to support these leaders
we can grow a culture of public leadership
within the Church. By releasing public
leaders as cultural missionaries we can all
play a part in contributing to the coming
Kingdom of God.
thepublicleader.com
THE 9-5
Food and faith:
A day in the life of Jamie
Oliver’s food stylist
Christina Mackenzie is a food
stylist for Jamie Oliver. She lives
in East London with her husband
and new baby, Jonah. She goes
to Christ Church, London, which
meets at Mermaid Theatre
christchurchlondon.org
“I usually start the day by hitting the snooze
button a few times, before rushing to get
ready for work – unless I have an early shoot,
in which case I am up and out the door as
soon as possible.
cupboard, cooking, packing up equipment,
loading our vans – the list goes on. Or it could
be a much simpler day, writing recipes for
the Jamie magazine, or testing recipes, which
involves being in the kitchen all day.
When I arrive at work I deal with emails,
print off recipes that I am testing and write
shopping lists. At some point along the way
I grab some toast, usually involving marmite
and smushed avocado. If you haven’t tried it,
do it – you will never go back!
The food team is so important to what Jamie
does – it covers all things foodie. We all help
to make sure he is supported and that his
high standards are met in every project.
There are times when I work one-on-one with
Jamie, getting him set up for filming, a live
demonstration or PR event, but mostly it’s in a
team set-up, where we are all running around
behind the scenes with Jamie there doing his
thing.
My role as a food stylist in Jamie’s food team is
so varied. We do everything and anything, but
my main jobs are testing recipes, cooking and
styling food for various shoots – photography,
TV, advertising and other live events. I also
help in developing recipes, prop styling
(picking out props for shoots) and set dressing
studio kitchens and other spaces.
There is no ‘normal’ day in the world of Jamie’s
food team. One day I could be prepping for
a massive shoot, which involves making lots
of lists, doing lots of shopping, going to the
props houses or picking out props from our
Jamie knows I’m a Christian and really
respects that. To quote the thanks page in
his 15 Minute Meals cook book: “Christina
‘Boochie’ MacKenzie, thanks for reigning in my
swearing.” It makes me giggle, but it’s sweet
I have that effect. Jamie called me Christina
Scaraboochie and sung a funny song when
I first met him while doing work experience
in the food team about six years ago. It stuck
and Boochie became my work nickname.
Evidence of Christina’s love of baking, complete
with edible flowers
I have a real sweet tooth so I do love to bake,
usually for other people – which doesn’t get
complaints! I find it really relaxing and it is so
easy to just whip up some brownies or a cake.
Sometimes if I have been cooking all day at
work I am a bit over food by the evening.
Thankfully my husband is a great cook and
happily whips us up a homemade curry or
quick pasta. An amazing perk of the job is
often we get to take home lovely cooked
food, so you never go hungry.
I generally spend my evenings just chilling
out. After a busy day I don’t tend to have
loads of energy to do much, and I often finish
working quite late, so don’t have much of
an evening. When I do finish at a good time,
it is always nice to eat a nice meal together
with my husband or eat out together with
friends. We live in a really creative and foodie
area in Hackney, so we always come across
new and exciting pop-ups, markets, cafes and
restaurants.”
I felt God opened a door for me to be
able to get the opportunity to do work
experience here when I was in my second
year of university. This then led to a yearlong placement in my third year and then
afterwards I was offered a full-time job.
Testing a recipe at work for a Russian Easter cake
JULY/AUGUST 2015
I’ve had many great conversations with
people within the business and in my team
about God and my faith. I feel that under
the high stress and pressure that my job can
sometimes bring I have an inner peace that
I get from God. Many people in my team
say that I’m always very calm and a peaceful
influence among the team, especially during
some of the more stressful situations my job
can bring.
Christina with Jamie Oliver, Helen Mirren and
another member of the team
IDEA MAGAZINE / 11
60 SECONDS WITH…
Gavin Calver – the Alliance’s
brand new director of mission
After 14 years leading Youth for Christ, Gavin Calver has
joined the team here at the Evangelical Alliance, tasked
with heading up mission and bringing more people
in the UK to faith in Jesus. Amaris Cole caught up with
the son of former Alliance director general Clive Calver
before he took up his new role at the beginning of June.
Tell us about your role with YFC…
I served at Youth for Christ for 14 years in
total. Initially I co-led the year-out teams
alongside my wife Anne, before then
directing the church resources department. I
spent my last six years at YFC as the national
director (CEO). It was such a privilege to be
involved and we saw so many young people
meet Jesus. I will always be grateful to YFC
for all the incredible opportunities I had, and
for them believing in me and helping me to
grow.
What have you learnt from YFC that you’ll
bring to the Alliance?
In truth there’s loads from my time at YFC
that I bring with me to the Alliance. Working
with young people you need to be even
more innovative and creative than with any
other age group in order to engage them.
I hope to bring this edge with me and to
grow it further in the years ahead. Most
importantly though, I carry the heart of an
evangelist and I join the Alliance with an
utter desperation to see every person in the
UK encounter Jesus as their personal Lord
and Saviour. I also bring a high expectation
with me of what’s possible with the Lord.
I’ve seen so much that is miraculous in and
through the ministry of YFC that I now hope
and believe for the same at the Alliance.
What are your plans for your new role
here?
I’m really looking forward to getting my feet
under the table and learning from many
around me. Often the Church unites around
projects and mission, and within my role
I want to help the Alliance to be catalytic
in enabling the Church to do that. I am for
Jesus and I want to be part of a Church
primarily defined by what it’s for, not what
it is against. This means all kinds of lifestyle
change, but most importantly means an
incredible relationship that defines who we
are. I want my role to help point people to
this Jesus.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 12
What’s it like to follow in the footsteps of
your father at the Alliance?
Lots of people have asked that! It’s not just
my father - my grandfather Gilbert Kirby was
also the head of the Alliance in his lifetime.
In truth, I have an incredible heritage and I’m
proud of that. There’s something in my DNA
that desires to unite Christians for changing
a nation. However, I’m also my own person
and flattered though I am by comparison to
my dad, I will bring my own flavour to the
Alliance.
What inspires the work you do?
I have always been an all-or-nothing person.
When I fully surrendered my life to Jesus as
an 18-year-old, I committed to go wherever,
whenever and into whatever, in order to help
others meet Jesus and to try and play my
part in changing the world. This God-given
drive remains the same today and pushes
me forward. I also take great inspiration from
many around me who are much wiser and
experienced, and I find what they’ve done
and their hunger for more, an inspiration to
me on my own journey.
I carry the heart
of an evangelist and I
join the Alliance with
an utter desperation
to see every person in
the UK encounter Jesus
as their personal Lord
and Saviour.”
Gavin Calver
HOBBIES: Spending time with my
wife and two young kids. I’m a keen
runner, play for a football team and
like physical challenges. I’ve set a
World Record for the longest five-aside football match, run a couple of
marathons and cycled from Land’s End
to John O’Groats. Who knows what’s
next?!
TEAM: That’s easy - I’m a very
passionate AFC Wimbledon fan
FAVOURITE BAND: I’m stuck in a ‘90s
Britpop time warp so I am delighted
that my favourite band of my youth
Blur are back on the scene with a new
album.
BEST ADVICE? The late prophet Alex
Buchanan, told me as a 14-year-old
who was struggling with faith to
pursue Jesus with all that I had and
never go against his will for my life
– regardless of what other people
thought about it.
JULY/AUGUST 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 13
POVERTY SURVEY
by Lucy Olofinjana
Good news for the
Poverty and inequality is the single most important issue facing the UK according
to evangelicals who took our recent politics survey. Our latest report Good news
for the poor? digs deeper into evangelicals’ views and experiences of poverty, with
some fascinating results.
Material poverty
Evangelicals clearly believe that God cares
about poverty, and that they should too.
In the past year almost three quarters gave
to a charity tackling poverty overseas and
70 per cent donated goods to a foodbank.
Evangelicals are also directly engaged in
tackling poverty, with more than half giving
to someone they know personally who is
facing poverty, a quarter giving long-term
support or befriending someone who is in
poverty and 37 per cent volunteering with a
Christian poverty project. Another nine per
cent help at a secular project. However, only
one in 10 are inviting poor people into their
homes for a meal, or intentionally living in a
poorer area in response to God’s call.
Although most of our panel are financially
comfortable, one in 10 told us they have
previously been in serious debt. And a
quarter told us they have experienced
miraculous provision when they were
in financial trouble – with one person
sharing their story: “When my husband was
unemployed we were down to the last tin
of food and had no money to pay some
bills. We prayed together, but didn’t tell
anybody. The next morning somebody put
an envelope through the door with £200 in
and someone else left three bags of food on
the doorstep!”
The politics of poverty
The evangelicals who took the survey
seem very concerned about the impact of
government policies on the poorest and
most vulnerable. More than three quarters
feel that government economic policy is
hurting the poor more than the rich, and
two thirds think that welfare reform policies
are having a negative impact on the sick and
disabled. In addition, only 15 per cent think
that current government economy policy is
working well to produce a more prosperous
IDEA MAGAZINE / 14
future for all, and 69 per cent believe that
economic policy is failing to raise most
people’s income to meet the increased cost
of living. But despite obviously high levels
of concern, just one in five said that their
church leadership has encouraged them to
campaign on poverty issues in the last year.
While evangelicals are concerned about
welfare dependency and issues such
as addictions and family breakdown,
they view the welfare system much
more sympathetically than the national
population – 28 per cent consider the
welfare budget is too low, compared with
just 15 per cent of the general population.
(although 22 per cent of evangelicals
consider it to be too high). And while 56
per cent agree that the government is right
to withdraw benefits from those who can’t
prove that they are willing to work, 46 per
cent do not think cutting welfare benefits is
a good way to tackle poverty.
Evangelicals recognise that UK poverty is
complex and requires multiple solutions –
material, relational and spiritual – including
good education, strong businesses which
offer employment, debt advice and money
management courses and prevention of
family breakup.
Putting our money where our mouth is?
Over a third said they have given really
sacrificially of their time or money in
obedience to God, but a higher proportion
– 39 per cent – admitted that they have felt
guilty for not giving to someone in need
when they were able to. One person told us:
“I am, frankly, embarrassed at some of my
responses – at my personal lack of action
and my church, which does nothing in word
or deed for the poor in the UK.” This person
was not alone, with almost a quarter feeling
that their church does not do effective work
to tackle poverty locally. Some admitted
that this was because their churches are
very inward looking. In the words of one
respondent: “Our church would rather raise
£300,000 to reorder the pews, the floor and
the organ”, and another: “Because my church
fails to reach out far into the community, we
don’t really know the extent of the poverty
in our local area.”
Just less than half – 44 per cent – say that
their church is working on a project to
address poverty in their own community.
We’ve heard of fantastic projects run by
churches, from foodbanks to CAP debt
centres and job clubs, supporting the
homeless and refugees to furniture projects,
and providing cooked meals to running
children’s projects in deprived communities.
Churches are also actively tackling poverty
overseas, from sending shoebox presents
at Christmas to regularly giving to projects
abroad – although only half said their church
regularly supports a charity tackling poverty
in less developed countries.
Spiritual poverty
Just 11 per cent believe that if we are faithful
to God this means we will prosper materially.
Many told us they are concerned that the UK
is spiritually destitute, and 71 per cent think
that spiritual poverty is a bigger problem
than material poverty. However just 14 per
cent agreed that it is more important to
share the gospel with poor people than to
meet their material needs. It was clear from
our research that evangelicals believe that
the Church should be meeting both spiritual
and material needs, not either/or.
Just over a quarter – 27 per cent – said
their church has seen people experiencing
poverty come to faith in Christ in the last
year, including this story: “Some personal
friends of ours who live in poverty have
come to faith recently through an Alpha
POVERTY SURVEY
poor?
course. They were originally befriended by
church members through sending their
children to our children’s club and coming to
our annual church camp.”
Despite this, a substantial two thirds told
us that they don’t think churches in the
UK are very good at sharing their faith or
discipling the poorest sections of society.
One respondent with strong feelings told
us: “Most Christians seem to move into
the nicest area they can afford to get away
from anti-social behaviour and working
class people. Then they come to church
and talk about wanting to reach everyone.”
And it seems poorer people are not often
being given leadership opportunities,
with just nine per cent saying that people
experiencing poverty are involved in public
ministry or leadership in their church.
eauk.org/snapshot
JULY/AUGUST 2015
£
£
11% think that if we are
faithful to God we will
prosper materially
70% have donated to a
food bank in the last year
10% have in the last year
shared a meal in their home
with someone who was hungry,
destitute or homeless
22% of evangelicals think
the welfare budget is too
high and should be reduced
(compared to 46% of the
national population)
78% said current
government economic
policy is hurting the
poor more than the rich
44% say their church
works on a project to tackle
poverty in their community
76% agree that local churches
should organise themselves to
share their God-given wealth
so that none of their members
experience serious poverty
66% think that churches
in the UK are not very
good at evangelising and
discipling the poorest
sections of society
27% said that their
church has seen people
experiencing poverty
come to faith in Christ in
the last year
Inspired?
Good news for the poor? is designed to encourage and inspire you and
your church as you consider how you are responding to the realities of
poverty and relating with the poorest in society.
Here are a few questions you and your church may want to reflect on:
•
Is your church in a community where richer and poorer people share
their lives and resources with one another?
•
Are you making a difference to the lives of those in need locally,
nationally and overseas?
•
How can you build relationships with poor and marginalised people in
your community, listening to their stories and learning from them?
•
If you run social action projects, are these effective in building
relationships, tackling poverty or bringing people to faith?
•
Are there any issues relating to poverty that you could campaign on?
Visit eauk.org/surveys to access more discussion questions,
download your copy of the report and order paper copies.
Image: CC Thomas Galvez
When my husband
was unemployed
we were down to
the last tin of food
and had no money
to pay some bills.
We prayed together,
but didn’t tell
anybody. The next
morning somebody
put an envelope
through the door
with £200 in and
someone else left
three bags of food
on the doorstep!”
11% have previously
been in serious debt
problems
IDEA MAGAZINE / 15
GOOD QUESTION
by Charlie Osewalt
Should churches tithe?
The simple answer to this question is no,
argues Stewardship’s Charlie Osewalt
On 8 March I was asked to speak at a church
in Cambridge. They are in the midst of
raising £7 million for a new church building.
On each of their building giving days a
portion of their offering is presented to
another charity. The day I was speaking they
presented the first fruits of their building
fund offering to Tearfund. They do this
whether they are above or below their
building goal. They believe in generosity.
Additionally, they are following Paul’s
instruction to all the churches he planted,
1 Corinthians 16:1-2: “Regarding the relief
offering for poor Christians that is being
collected, you get the same instructions I
gave the churches in Galatia. Every Sunday,
each of you make an offering and put it in
safekeeping. Be as generous as you can.“
Practically – so churches can budget and
plan, pay the electric bills and the staff and
also we can worship as a community – we
are to give our first fruits to the church each
Sunday.
When teaching about giving in his letters
to the church in Corinth, Paul then is not
talking about tithing. Paul is talking to
the church and others about something
much more - something of the heart. He is
speaking about generosity; he is speaking
about grace in giving.
His answer to how we should give as
communities is: be as generous to others
as Christ was generous to you. Overflow in
your generosity and it will cause overflow
to you. Therefore, churches are called to
radical generosity. Tithing is not the same as
generosity - although it may help as some
form of indicator. But if the tithe is thought
of as only “giving money” – as opposed to
people, staff time and resources – then truly,
tithing is a poor indicator.
Here is Paul’s description: “Now, friends,
I want to report on the surprising and
generous ways in which God is working in
the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce
troubles came down on the people of those
churches, pushing them to the very limit.
The trial exposed their true colours. They
were incredibly happy, though desperately
poor. The pressure triggered something
totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure
and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for
myself. They gave offerings of whatever they
could—far more than they could afford!—
pleading for the privilege of helping out in
the relief of poor Christians.
“This was totally spontaneous, entirely their
own idea, and caught us completely off
guard. What explains it was that they had
first given themselves unreservedly to God
and to us. The other giving simply flowed
out of the purposes of God working in their
lives. That’s what prompted us to ask Titus
to bring the relief offering to your attention,
so that what was so well begun could be
finished up. You do so well in so many
things—you trust God, you’re articulate,
you’re insightful, you’re passionate, you love
us—now, do your best in this, too”
2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (MSG).
Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth
has two parts. The first seven chapters speak
about the church’s struggles and how their
love refreshed Titus, who had just returned
to Paul. The second part of the letter is
mainly about the Macedonians’ churches.
Titus is bringing the above letter to the
church in Corinth. Previously, they promised
to give a special offering to the Jerusalem
church, but had not completed the promise.
We have it today because they finished well;
they gave generously.
On the surface, the Macedonian churches
couldn’t be more different than the church
in Corinth. Macedonia had many small
churches in what was basically a rural
community; whereas Corinth was a large,
diverse church in a sprawling city. What
both churches had in common was an
understanding of grace. Grace is another
expression of generosity. Macedonians first
gave themselves totally to God and then,
in a new community, they gave to others.
Facing severe trials and extreme poverty, the
churches pooled their resources together
and gave a rich offering to the plague
stricken community in Jerusalem. They
didn’t give a number or a percentage of the
net or gross. They gave all they could – and
more. They did not tithe. The Macedonians
churches worked together to model
generosity. They gave their best.
We are under grace, not the law; love, not
obligation; generosity, not the tithe. God
wants us to give out of our understanding of
His gift - His son to us.
Should churches tithe? No, but they
should be generous with all their hearts.
Why? Because of His heart; because of His
indescribable gift: His son Jesus.
Jesus and the Rome coin from San Marco church
IDEA MAGAZINE / 16
JULY/AUGUST 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 17
BIG INTERVIEW
The future of the World Evangelical Alliance –
Earlier this year, the World
Evangelical Alliance met for the
International Leadership Forum,
which saw leaders of national
evangelical associations come
together in Honduras to unite in
vision and mission, talking about
strategic planning, nurturing
relationships and how to be most
effective as a WEA. For Bishop
Efraim Tendero, known to many as
Bishop Ef, the Forum marked the
start of his tenure.
The general director of the UK
Alliance, Steve Clifford, attended the
conference and met Bishop Ef for the
first time. He said: “It was great to
meet up with Bishop Efraim.
He comes to the role with a long track
record of leadership of the Philippine
Council of Evangelical Churches
(PCEC). He struck me as a man of faith
with a passion to serve the Church in
fulfilling the purposes of God in our
generation.”
While speaking to Amaris Cole,
Bishop Ef spoke more about this
passion, the future for the WEA
and the challenges of leading this
international organisation.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 18
Tell us about your background. Have you
always been a Christian?
I am a second generation Christian from my
father’s side and third generation Christian
from my mother’s side. But personally, I
came to faith in Jesus when I was 12 years
old when my mother brought me to an
evangelistic event where I was counseled to
receive the Lord into my life.
What were you doing before you were
appointed secretary general of the WEA?
After my graduation from Bible School, I
served as pastor of a local church for 18
years and saw the church grow. For the
following 22 years I served as the national
director of the Philippine Council of
Evangelical Churches (PCEC), which is the
Evangelical Alliance in the Philippines. Over
those years, I have seen the growth and
impact of this ministry.
BIG INTERVIEW
– survival in the face of persecution
What do you think the future holds for
the WEA? Can a unified group remain
when each Alliance is facing such unique
challenges and conflicts?
The purpose of the WEA is to advance the
good news of the Lord Jesus. To do this we
need to be a biblically-based and Spirit-led
movement across the globe. Then God can
use the WEA to play a significant role in
advancing the good news of Jesus Christ
throughout the whole world.
Keeping the unity of the movement is
a challenge, however, as we focus on
the vision of advancing the good news
and strengthening evangelical churches
worldwide, we can overcome conflicts and
the diversities of the different Alliances.
across the globe gives great fulfilment. The
World Evangelical Alliance is a great army of
volunteers around the globe, whose desire
is to lift up the name of Jesus and spread
his message of love, justice, forgiveness and
compassion.
What would you like idea readers to pray
for when remembering the WEA?
Pray that we will be obedient to the great
commission of Jesus, which is to make
disciples of all the nations of the world, and
keep the great commandment of Jesus to
love others as he has loved us. And pray that
God will use the WEA in glorifying God by
initiating holiness, justice and renewal at
every level of society.
With so many attacks on Christians that
we hear of in the news (Africa, India,
Middle East, etc.), what should the Church
around the world do in response?
How does it feel to be given this role?
It is a humbling experience to be given the
trust to provide leadership to the worldwide
body of evangelicals. I take this with much
trust and faith in the Lord, that He will grant
me the wisdom and the favor in providing
this leadership.
What will be the biggest challenge as
secretary general?
The biggest challenge is how to keep the
vision before a worldwide body of believers.
Keeping close, up-to-date and effective
communication is another challenge. And
third, raising the financial resources that
are needed to sustain the programmes and
ministries of the WEA.
JULY/AUGUST 2015
We have to deepen the faith and the
commitment of the believers around the
world. We need to go back to the New
Testament principles of disciple-making, so
that as the churches are rooted in faith and
empowered to witness, they can face even
the most vicious attacks on Christians.
The early Church underwent the most
severe persecution, but the more they were
persecuted, the more the Church grew.
As one historian said: “The blood of the
martyrs is the seed of the Church.” As we
strengthen the faith of every believer and
their commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Church will be a strong movement
that God can use in facing these attacks on
Christianity.
What do you enjoy most about being an
evangelical leader?
Sharing the vision with dedicated and
committed leaders who think not of
themselves, but focus on how to obey
the commission of the Lord Jesus is one
of the things that gives me great joy. The
partnership and support of many leaders
“Pray that God will use
the WEA in glorifying
God by initiating
holiness, justice and
renewal at every level
of society.”
IDEA MAGAZINE / 19
IDEA MAGAZINE / 20
JULY/AUGUST 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 21
IN THE THICK OF IT
by Lucy Cooper
How to be an
inter-generational church
The Church - probably the group with the largest age range and
most diversity there is. We know the importance of raising the next
generation to encounter and develop and deepen a relationship
with God and encounter Him. But do we often presume this only
really happens in separate age groups?
Jane Butcher oversees the schools team and family in homes
ministry with the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF). “As adults we
frequently listen to the perspectives of other adults, but how familiar
or open are we to hearing perspectives from children? Children are
readily open to the impossible becoming possible.”
Mention all-age worship or family services and it may conjure up
cringe-worthy preconceptions of ways to entertain the children;
sitting through puppet shows or games for the sake of kids. Some
adults opt out and others endure the ‘children’s slot’. Often the
culture in the Church is to do things separately, so coming together
is a huge leap and leaders can be dissatisfied with the result.
“New ways to help generations connect are emerging into wider
awareness now,” says Sam Donoghue, co-editor of Childrenswork
magazine and head of children and youth for The Diocese of London.
“Resources are provided according to spiritual styles rather than
age groups, offering different options of ways to engage with God.
So, rather than having a specific craft for all children, you have an
art space where adults and children who are that way minded can
engage together.”
But ministry leaders on the ground are exploring alternative and
effective ways to engage both young and old to discover the
richness of what it means to worship together across generations.
Some are concerned adults won’t learn to become like children or
the children see what it means to grow as a Christian if age groups
are always separate. Jason Gardner, youthworker at St Peter’s,
Harrow and author of Mend the Gap, said: “Families spend more time
together than they used to. Why then do we keep them apart when
it comes to worship? The biblical picture is of a gospel that unites
people across divides, uniting young and old.”
We all learn differently and God
will communicate in all sorts of
creative ways if we let Him.”
IDEA MAGAZINE / 22
Simple changes can make worship more intergenerational and
create opportunity for movement, dialogue or active response.
Lianne Semans Smith, church and community development worker
for Scripture Union leads all-age programmes and has co-written
Explore Together, a resource based on zones and learning styles.
“When we get together we make space to hear from God and
learning from each other is a key part of growing in faith.” Lianne will
often simply present a story and ask open questions. “We all learn
differently and God will communicate in all sorts of creative ways if
we let Him.”
Chris Leach, an experienced children and family ministry leader,
planted a weekly all-age fresh expression alongside her husband Rev
John Leach. “We are prayerful and intentional about our DNA and
key values,” says Chris. “We aim for what we call the ‘Shrek effect’. The
film Shrek engages the children’s attention while at the same time
engages adults at their own level.”
IN THE THICK OF IT
It’s not quiet or predictable. It’s
messy and costly because it asks
us to put our personal preferences
to one side, move outside our
comfort zones and consider the
needs of others.”
and youth advisor for the Church of England, admits it’s not easy:
“It’s not quiet or predictable. It’s messy and costly because it asks
us to put our personal preferences to one side, move outside our
comfort zones and consider the needs of others.”
“We aim to create a culture where children are actively involved
alongside teens and adults, valued and vital,” adds Chris Leach. “Being
together as the whole body of Christ opens up fresh opportunities
for all to be renewed by the Holy Spirit.”
John Leach mentions that they make everything optional. “No guilt
trips for the dads, visitors or indeed anyone if they don’t do the
actions, for example. A key to good all-age worship is to keep it short
with a simple point and to leave people wanting more. The ministry
is focused on helping everyone, whatever age, to grow as Christians
into confident and mature disciples.”
Over time, songs and simple liturgy become familiar, which helps
non-readers to join in and families to use them at home in their own
worship times.
Nick and Becky Drake lead worship for everyone and are part of the
New Wine team. “We aim to lead the whole church in a face to face
encounter with the living God,” says Becky. “More than any specific
song choice, or set of actions, it’s an attitude and a commitment of
the whole church to ‘honour one another above themselves’.”
“Allowing young and old to get to know each other in more informal
settings allows relationships to grow as well as faith,” says Kay
Morgan-Gurr, national director of Children Worldwide and Alliance
council member. “It’s not just about Sundays. Intergenerational
church is learning, worshiping and growing in our relationship with
Jesus together, as a Church family.”
Outside of services, there are other ways to bring all ages together,
including Messy church, social events, festivals and informal prayer.
Many of these are accessible to those who find church times,
structure or liturgy difficult.
Nick Jackson, leader of Powerpack ministry and the local children
and family leader at Headington Baptist in Oxford leads a
multigenerational discipleship group. “It is lovely to see all ages from
5 to 60-year-olds use their leadership gifting and fascinating to see
how people relate in their zones.”
Alan Charter, ministry development director at Scripture Union, says:
“We need a shift from a purely independent focus and individualised
approach to the gospel towards greater interdependence in mission
as the body of Christ.
“We need to nurture the young in their formative years and live
out our calling to pass the gospel from one generation to the next.
The more we develop community, with meaningful generational
connections, the greater our impact will be.”
Krish Kandiah, founder of Home for Good, says: “My vision for all-age
Church revolves not around a service, but rather on a community of
God’s people who know and love one another and will do whatever
they can to help each other love God and live for Him in the world. “
A shift to an all-age culture takes time to build and involves
intention, vision, imagination and hard work. Mary Hawes, children
JULY/AUGUST 2015
For more organisations working for an intergenerational
Church, have a look at these resources:
Faith in Homes – faithinhomes.org.uk
Mend the gap: Can the Church reconnect the generations?
Published by IVP in 2008 by Jason Gardner
We are Family conference – 11-12 September in Liverpool
faithinhomes.org.uk/we-are-family-conference
Explore Together resources –
exploretogether.org
All Age training from Big Ministries bigministries.co.uk/allage-training
All Age Worship by Lucy Moore Published by The Bible Reading Fellowship in 2010
Worship for Everyone –
worshipforeveryone.com
God Venture resources –
godventure.co.uk
Creative Worship for all-age church by John Guest
Creative Ideas for All-age Church by Karen Bulley
IDEA MAGAZINE / 23
F
TURE
Welcoming the convert
How Christians and Muslims are working
together to ensure religious freedom
Advanced conversations have been taking place this year between Jim Stewart
of Evangelical Alliance Wales and Abdul-Azim Ahmed of the Muslim Council of
Wales regarding an exciting religious freedom initiative between leaders of the
two respective faiths. The proposal, put forward by Jim a few months ago, was for
a joint statement – signed by both Christian and Muslim leaders – to support the
right of the individual to choose their faith.
To many readers, this may seem surprising.
Muslims don’t support religious
freedom, do they?
Here, Jim takes us back to
the beginning of the
process.
Three years ago, I initiated research on the
experiences of Christians in Wales who
had come from a Muslim background.
Conversion from one faith to another can
be a taboo subject, but it is by no means
a recent phenomenon: it has occurred
throughout the centuries and across all the
main faiths, and recent research indicates
that the rate of conversion from the faith
in which someone was raised, to another is
increasing. The subject of conversion indeed
merits careful study and, while the topic is
interesting in general, the specific focus here
on Islam has the potential to provide a more
nuanced understanding of the issue.
From the initial research undertaken by the
Alliance in Wales, I organised an event in
Cardiff during interfaith week 2013 entitled:
Welcoming the Convert. This event, which was
supported by six Muslim organisations, had
IDEA MAGAZINE / 24
two speakers – one a Muslim from a Christian
background and the other a Christian from
a Muslim background. The attendees all
contributed in a sensitive and respectful way,
with no one trying to score points for their
faith.
In September 2014, I became aware of a joint
statement between Christian and Muslim
leaders that was signed in Norway in 2007
in support of the right of the individual to
choose their faith. This gave me the desire to
see if something similar could be achieved
in Wales. It was the only such collaboration
between Christian and Muslim leaders that I
was aware of, and challenged the often-held
belief that Muslims do not support religious
freedom.
Dr. Usama Hasan, a Muslim scholar who
himself believes that the apostasy laws have
to be repealed, acknowledged the need for
a conversation within Islam on this subject.
When speaking in March 2015 on the BBC’s
The Big Questions on apostasy, he said:
“Muslims have to grapple with these difficult
issues,” and “have an honest discussion about
their tradition”. A website (apostasyandislam.
blogspot.co.uk) created in 2007 by Muslims,
provides examples of Islamic voices who
have spoken publicly in support of religious
freedom. While the debate may be ongoing,
there are clear examples of Muslim leaders
who have nailed their colours to the mast. In
a Welsh context, it’s with such Muslim leaders
who see religious freedom as being rooted in
the Quran that I’m seeking to find common
ground and work with.
I drafted a version of the joint statement
and circulated it to some Cardiff imams for
comments. They were welcoming of it and
F
TURE
Edwards no longer practising his faith?
Conversations around religious conversion
may involve sadness and a sense of loss
and so we need to develop language in a
gracious, respectful manner.
3) The need for honesty.
A criticism that has been levelled at interfaith
forums is that they focus on respect and
agreement, but avoid broaching difficult
issues. In order to be able to explore issues
such as religious conversion, we need to
have the trust and friendship in place so
that we can, if needed, discuss examples
where someone’s religious freedom has
not been respected. Interfaith culture can
actually discourage such conversations
from taking place, insisting that we focus on
commonality. But if not now, when can we
have those conversations?
4) The need for humility.
We sometimes adopt a sense of superiority
and arrogance when engaging in
some interfaith issues, but we need to
acknowledge when people who identify
as Christians are guilty of the same things
that we are condemning. For example,
the practice of female genital mutilation –
which some people associate with Muslim
cultures - exists in some Christian cultures in
Africa, and while we are not saying that it is
as widespread as in non-Christian cultures,
it is nevertheless important to recognise its
existence.
5) The need for transparency.
had three suggested amendments, each of
which I thought were positive. A symbolic
event has now been mooted for later on this
year where Christian and Muslim leaders
from Cardiff will sign the statement.
learning the lessons of the 1995 genocide of
Bosnian Muslims.
Here are five things I’ve learnt through
the process:
Islam has rarely been out of the news
over the past year and many Christians
have developed views as a result, many
of which have been formed by the media
and literature that they have read. Often
however, Christians are only talking to other
Christians about these issues - never more
so than on social media! - and so there can
be a lot of polarisation and stereotyping
taking place. If we want to engage Muslims
more in these issues – which we really need
to - we will need to tone down the language
a bit and establish common ground first.
Remember how we as Christians felt when
we heard about former athlete Jonathan
1) The importance of good relationships
and friendships.
In Wales we have the Faith Communities
Forum, a body that meets twice a year
with Wales’ First Minister and the Interfaith
Council of Wales – both of which facilitate
the building of strong friendships and trust
among leaders of Wales’ different faith
communities. Friendships were further
strengthened last October as Welsh faith
leaders spent four days together in Bosnia as
part of a delegation, visiting Srebrenica and
JULY/AUGUST 2015
2) The need to develop a “neutral”
language to talk about delicate issues.
The phenomenal growth in social media, the
internet and other forms of communication
mean that the need for transparency is
greater than it ever has been if we want to
have constructive interfaith conversations on
delicate issues such as religious conversion.
Understanding our motivation is important;
for the joint statement I’ve mentioned,
the main motivation is a peace-making
one - for Christians and others to peacefully
co-exist in Wales and to enjoy religious
freedom. Factors such as human rights,
equality and developing a nuanced and
informed understanding of Wales’ Muslim
communities are all important as well.
What are the next steps? Apart from the
Cardiff joint statement, discussions have
been held with a view to organising
meetings around Wales over the next year so
that what has started in Cardiff can become
a Wales-wide initiative.
We are mindful that within the Alliance there
are a range of experiences and opinions about
this topic. We are not able to cover all the issues
involved in detail, but if you have any questions
or comments, do feel free to get in touch by
emailing [email protected].
IDEA MAGAZINE / 25
F
TURE
by C
A new
phenomenon
in UK:
Image: CC Bob Protus
churches working
together to reach
Muslims
The Muslim population in the UK
has increased by 70 per cent in the
last 10 years. It’s time we introduced
Jesus to these people searching for
God, argues Gordon Hickson from
the Mahabba Network.
Something remarkable is happening. Over
the last 30 years Jesus has been appearing
to Muslim people world-wide, particularly in
dreams and visions. From Iran to Indonesia,
and Sierra Leone to Egypt, millions of
Muslims have come to know Jesus as “Isa
Al Masih” – Jesus the Messiah – and for the
first time they have experienced a personal
relationship with God as their Father. Yet in
this country, many Christians are unaware
of what God is doing. Christians often find
themselves alienated from the Muslim
people around them, fearful of offending
them, or even angry at the Islamisation of
their cities, and the rapid growth of radical
Islamists.
But young Muslims like Khalid or Maryam
are desperate to find a sense of belonging
and a purpose for life. Then there are many
like Mohammed and Noor, a young married
couple, who long for a sense of peace and
joy in their home, yet are constantly arguing
IDEA MAGAZINE / 26
F
TURE
Millions of Muslims have come to know
Jesus as “Isa Al Masih” – Jesus the Messiah –
and for the first time they have experienced a
personal relationship with God as their Father.”
in Britain found that a quarter of Muslims
in Britain say they have sympathy for the
motives behind the Charlie Hebdo attacks,
and feel that acts of violence are justified
against people who mock the Prophet.
Even more disturbing, it found that 45 per
cent of Muslims believe that Muslim clerics
are justified when they preach violence
as a response to the West’s interference in
Muslim Nations.
Conversely, it is actually this violence that
is discrediting Islam and is a major factor
in them turning to Christ, as many Muslims
begin to question their Islamic identity.
This real threat can’t be ignored, but it also
presents Christians with one of the greatest
opportunities of our time - to unveil Jesus
to Muslim people in the western world and
lead them to Christ.
and feeling a million miles from God. Today
however, there are millions of Muslims living
in western nations, and many of them are
longing to know God personally. Mosques
are now common in our neighbourhoods,
but do we see the precious people who go
there seeking God? They seek the same God,
but sadly haven’t found Jesus.
The number of people identifying
themselves as Muslim in the UK has grown
by almost 70 per cent in 10 years, from 1.6
million in 2001 to 2.7 million in 2011, and
estimated to increase further to 5.5 million
by 2020. Islam has found a home in the UK.
Increasingly, Christians across the UK are
being confronted by an escalation of radical
Islam, with stories of terrible atrocities and
bloodshed in Iraq, Syria and beyond. What
has shocked us even more is that English
Muslims are pouring out to these war zones
to lend their support to ISIS and other
radical groups. A BBC poll of 1,000 Muslims
JULY/AUGUST 2015
The seeds for a ministry called “Mahabba”
were planted in 2005, when a missionary
family returned to Oxford from Pakistan
after 18 years of ministry. Together with a
local parish vicar with years of missionary
experience, they began a weekly prayer
meeting for those with a passion to reach
Muslims. From these humble beginnings,
Mahabba has now grown to become a
cross-denominational ministry situated in 35
cities around the UK, and with an increasing
presence in Europe.
Historically, many Christians, have focused
on the effects of Islamisation and on the
persecuted Church, responding with fear
and alienating themselves from face-to-face
interaction with their Muslim neighbours.
However Mahabba, which means ‘love’ in
Arabic, has flourished and Christians across
the UK are being inspired to reach out in
love to the thousands of Muslim people who
are now living here.
Mahabba’s overriding vision is to see large
numbers of Muslim people turning to Christ,
becoming disciples and being involved in
a local church. Mahabba helps thousands
of Christians to “face the facts but not fuel
the fear”, resulting not only in Muslims
coming to faith, but also in improved social
cohesion, especially in cities with a high
Islamic presence.
Mahabba’s approach has been to establish
local groups built on unity and prayer –
two key factors that release faith and love
for Muslims – and to mobilise ordinary
Christians to be informed and, more
importantly, to be involved. Perhaps
Mahabba could one day be the equivalent
of the Alpha Course for Muslims, helping
to engage the broader Church in ministry
towards Muslims; a carefully defined,
replicable model enabling ordinary believers
to make a significant difference among
Muslims in their community.
Mahabba is also helping church leaders
understand how to respond to the current
situation: the programmes establish a
learning environment for sharing resources,
testimonies, and encouragement. They
equip local churches with mentoring and
training materials, which help church leaders
to train lay members of their churches to
relate to Muslims in love and to explain
the Gospel clearly – always starting with
friendship.
Too often churches in Britain are ill-equipped
to assist Muslims who wish to explore the
Christian faith, but across the UK many citybased Mahabba groups are stepping up to
witness to these groups. In Manchester, in
just one week, a young man from Pakistan
entered the Cathedral asking to convert;
a Saudi woman walked into a church and
asked to become a Christian, and a Somali
man shared with his Christian friend that he
wanted to become a follower of Jesus.
God is on the move. Mahabba Networks
have been now been launched in 35 cities
across the UK, as well as spreading to France,
Belgium and Norway, with groups waiting to
develop in Denmark and Austria: the model
has also been shared in the United States,
Canada, Australia and South Africa.
In the UK there are now 75 cities with
more than 5,000 Muslims and Mahabba’s
goal is to establish prayer groups in every
one, replicating Mahabba Networks across
Europe and beyond.
If you would like help in setting up a
Mahabba Network, please contact: info@
mahabbanetwork.com
IDEA MAGAZINE / 27
F
TURE
What kind
of Church?
A year ago the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland produced a booklet entitled What Kind
of Nation. It was an attempt to get Christians to think about the type of nation we want
to live in. Issues such as justice, how to deal with poverty and environmental concerns
were all raised. The booklet was hugely successful, leading to a reprint and a series of
hustings across the country. But since then, church leaders have been asking a new
question. Fred Drummond, director of Evangelical Alliance Scotland, explains.
Several times during the discussions
around What Kind of Nation? I was
approached by Christian leaders asking
a different question: what type of
Church brings about a transformed
nation?
I was challenged by that question. In
a time of huge change for the Church,
not just in Scotland, but across the UK,
which faces numerical decline and a
disconnect with large parts of society,
what type of Church makes significant
impact? While thinking about this I was
challenged directly by several people
to write a booklet aimed at creating a
IDEA MAGAZINE / 28
discussion to lead change in our Church
across the UK.
What I didn’t want to do was to write
another How-to guide: 10 pointers to
being a super cool church, or just ‘do this
stuff better and your congregation will
grow’. I wanted to get the whole body
of Christ to think about the values that
are shaping us and whether they are the
values that shaped the early Church. The
booklet is about what is central to us as
the people of God: when we gather and
when we are scattered, our identity and
our calling. You can read a sample of the
resource in the box:
F
TURE
Encounter and Engagement
Moses encounters the holiness, power and compassion
of God. He is a man full of doubts about himself, and his
suitability for the task God has called him to. However,
he was able to face pharaoh and the people because of
the encounter he had with God, and because God had
promised to be with him. It was the encounter with God
that led Moses to engaging with the powers of his day.
Isaiah had a really tough calling. He was to take the
word of God to people who wouldn’t hear, didn’t
understand and didn’t care. He is to remain faithful and
just keep going. How do you keep going in the midst of
a sea of negativity and disappointment? Maybe that’s
a question some of us face in our family, workplace or
church every day. But he was able to keep engaging
because of the depth of his encounter.
His engagement was not based on altruism, but on
calling. It is the encounter that shapes the engagement.
It is out of our intimacy with God that any meaningful
transformation takes place, and it is serving in the world
that leads us to desire greater intimacy with the one
who weeps over cities.
The booklet then looks at the Church gathered and scattered. I suggest that
these are two sides of the same coin.
The booklet includes discussion about
the marks of the Church gathered
in the New Testament. Seven things
that, though not an exclusive list, were
central to the life of the early Church.
Then there is a discussion about being
sent as witnesses into five main areas of
JULY/AUGUST 2015
It is a mistake to separate mission – our involvement
with God in His transformative presence in and for the
world – from worship, prayer and reflection.
Encounter with no engagement leads to a pious
retreating from the world that denies the incarnation
and ignores God’s transformative purposes for the
communities He has placed us in.
Equally, to engage with the world without a deepening
and consistent encounter with Jesus is simply to offer, at
best, a powerless grey replica of what the world already
offers.
As a Church, when we offer engagement without
encounter, we have reduced ourselves to religious
secularists devoid of kingdom power. We need to have
a holistic vision that sees everything in the context of
Jesus Christ as Lord. It is Jesus who calls us. He is the
one who has lifted us and given us hope. We are Jesus
people.
The closer to the light you are the more light you
radiate.
life: family, community, the workplace,
the public square and the world.
I believe that the fields are white unto
harvest. I am convinced this is a time
for the Church to catch that desire for
intimacy with Jesus again, which leads
to a renewed sense of our calling to be
sent witnesses of Jesus. Knowing that
Jesus is able, the gospel is the power of
God to salvation and it is our time. It is
time for us to be what we were always
meant to be: bold, loving, kingdom
culture makers.
What kind of Church? Join the
conversation, take action.
The booklet with discussion questions
will be available from July. A series of
conversations will begin in Scotland in
September.
IDEA MAGAZINE / 29
THEOLOGY
by David Garrison
The greatest turning in history
IS. AL Qaeda. Boko Haram. These radical terrorist
groups invade our news every day, but there is
another story unfolding across the Muslim world, a
story that needs to be told.
Over the past three years, I travelled more
than a quarter of a million miles into
every corner of the ‘House of Islam’ – the
name that Muslims have long given to an
invisible spiritual empire that stretches
across the Muslim world, from West
Africa to the Indonesian archipelago – to
investigate unprecedented reports of
multiplying movements of Muslims who
are turning to faith in Jesus. The House of
Islam encompasses 1.6 billion Muslim men,
women, and children. For nearly 14 centuries,
Islam has been expanding, drawing into its
orbit millions of followers. Today, for the first
time in history, we’re seeing a change in this
growing tide of Islamic advance.
My research revealed that we are living in
the midst of the greatest turning of Muslims
to Jesus Christ in history. Where is this
occurring? How is it happening? And why is
it happening today?
I interviewed Nadia, a 43-year-old Iranian
widowed mother of three. She said: “From
my childhood I have been very curious about
Jesus. I felt there was an empty place inside
of me. I learned that one of my cousins had
become a Christian. I asked him for a New
Testament and I read it. Inside I was in a
revolution. So I prayed: ‘God, show me what
is really true’. As I read it, I felt my heart open
like an old door. From that time on, Jesus’
work started inside me. It was a strange
happiness like nothing I’d ever known.”
Gathering interviews from more than a
thousand Muslim-background followers
of Jesus Christ like Nadia, I discovered
that something historic, unprecedented,
is happening. My core question to these
Muslim-background followers was this:
“What did God use to bring you to faith
in Christ?” What I learned was that God is
orchestrating something profound. God is
using events and avenues that are unique
to our day to bring about this turning.
To understand the gravity of this historic
moment, though, we need to look back over
the past 14 centuries of Muslim-Christian
interaction.
Since Muhammad first launched his
monotheistic religion, tens of millions of
Christians, as well as Buddhists, Hindus, and
IDEA MAGAZINE / 30
Animists have been swept into the House of
Islam. What I wanted to know was when the
opposite occurred? When have we seen a
movement of at least 1,000 Muslims from an
Islamic community turned to faith in Jesus
and been baptised? Baptism is important
as an indicator of true faith; any Muslim will
tell you that he or she loves Jesus. After all,
the Qur’an exalts Jesus as a noble prophet.
But to submit to baptism, an act that clearly
indicates death to an old life and resurrection
to a new life as a follower of Jesus Christ,
one has to be firmly convinced. After all,
conversion from Islam is a death sentence
for Muslims. Apostasy is not an option if one
wishes to continue to live with Muslim family
and neighbours.
Perhaps this is why Muslim movements to
Christ are so rare. My research revealed that
the first hints of conversion did not occur
until the year 982, which is 350 years after
the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The
next don’t appear until the 11th and 13th
centuries, and these movements were short
lived, as Islam continued to expand. Then
we see another five centuries of drought
without a single movement to Christ.
Finally, in the closing decades of the 19th
century, two movements appear: one in
Indonesia (1870-1924) and the second in
northern Ethiopia (1890-1910). The 20th
century saw the West embroiled in its own
turmoil with two world wars and a great
economic depression. At the end of the 20th
century, however, things begin to change.
With social and political upheaval in Iran,
Algeria, Bangladesh, and the collapsing
Soviet Union, Christianity sees the addition
of 11 new Muslim movements to Christ.
Something was happening.
Then, in the opening years of the 21st
century, the monolith of Islamic resistance to
the gospel begins to crumble. In just the first
12 years of the 21st century, we can identify
and document a surge of 69 additional
movements of at least 1,000 Muslims
coming to faith in Jesus Christ and believers’
baptisms. Behind the veil of violence and
conflict that so plagues the Muslim world,
thousands of Muslims are walking away from
Islam and placing their trust in Jesus as the
Son of God and unique pathway to salvation.
How is this happening? On the one hand,
it is the ageless story of men and women
encountering the living Lord in humble
submission. On the other hand, it is the
unique confluence of Bible translations, the
prayers of God’s people, the rise in global
interconnectedness through the internet,
satellite television and radio, and the faithful
witness of God’s people. God is orchestrating
all of these factors together in our lifetime to
bring about the greatest turning of Muslims
to faith in Jesus Christ in history.
David Garrison’s book, A Wind in the House of
Islam, is available now, published by WIGTake
Resources.
JULY/AUGUST 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 31
LEADERS’ QUESTIONS
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to your inbox: eauk.org/signup
The stories they didn’t
teach at Sunday School
From Joseph and his
technicolour dream coat to
Daniel in the lion’s den, many
stories from the Bible were
taught to us over and over
again when our parents packed
us off to the children’s church
each week. But as we’ve grown,
many of us have met new
characters when turning the
pages of the Bible – heroes who
aren’t as familiar to us as Noah
or David. David Smyth from the
Northern Ireland Evangelical
Alliance has asked Christian
leaders some of their favourite
lessons they weren’t taught at
Sunday School.
Paul Coulter
Lecturer in practical theology and missiology in Belfast Bible College.
“This might sound odd, but I’d have to say the overarching story of the Bible. My Sunday School teachers
loved God’s word and they taught me many important things, but I never saw how it all fits together as
one story – from creation to new creation. Now that I have some grasp of that, I have greater confidence
in God’s eternal purposes and deeper appreciation for Jesus as the centre. I want to teach others –
including my children – how to live confidently and faithfully in our place in God’s story.”
The Rt Rev Ken Clarke
Mission director of SAMS UK and Ireland
“I guess that it has to be the story of Ananias. He was a link in a very important chain. He was a humble,
faithful, courageous servant-hearted disciple. He was probably the first Christ-follower to pray with Saint
Paul. Recently someone said to me: “It takes more grace than tongue can tell to play the second fiddle
well.” The story of the growth of the Church is the story of many second “faithful fiddles” like Ananias. In a
celebrity, big name culture, please note! God uses all of us, not just the big names.”
Neil Dawson
Pastor and elder, Grace Community Church
“I don’t remember ever hearing the story of Simeon and Anna growing up. I seem to have missed them
out in Christmas presentations, but I think they are amazing. The Holy Spirit was on Simeon and he
interacted with the Holy Spirit – another Bible lesson we weren’t taught – and Mary and Joseph were
stunned at what he prophesied over Jesus. This was confirmed by Anna, that he would be a light for
revelation and redemption for everyone, everywhere! I love this 84-year-old woman who worshipped
and prayed night and day.”
Caroline Bradley
Care for the Family Northern Ireland
“I recall stories that taught me how to behave and be a “good girl” and that Jesus loved me; catching a
message that said: do this and God will be pleased with you. I don’t recall hearing the stories containing
pain, disappointment, doubts and broken dreams in a way that helped my tender, maturing mind
grasp that life is not always about happy endings or perfection, but a message that Jesus loves me
unconditionally in the good, bad and ugly of life – bringing hope even in uncertainty and mistakes.
Perhaps it’s only living life that really teaches you that building on the foundation set in Sunday school.”
IDEA MAGAZINE / 32
F
Inspire Awards: have
you nominated your
hero yet?
Elemental refreshing
For more than 10 years, the fields
just outside Shirrel Heath in the
Meon Valley have been home to
the Wickham Music Festival, an
entertainment highlight for the area. A group from local churches
that have begun offering refreshment, prayer, hospitality and
community at the event, have been nominated for an Inspire Award.
I’ve had for ages. Although I
am a born-again atheist, I feel
more peaceful.”
Five Methodist churches from
the Meon Valley Methodist
Circuit are involved; Shirrell
Heath, Waltham Chase,
Swanmore, Bishop’s Waltham and Hambledon.
“It’s just a bit of TLC”, added Martin. “And if we get a chance, we will
talk about faith.”
The tent has a children’s corner, a cartoonist, a prayer corner, a
prophetic artist, healing prayer, crafts and refreshments. Outreaches
like Elemental have become a growing movement in the UK.
Your name
The Elemental tent, started at Wickham Music Festival in 2014 and
inspired by the Glastonbury venue of the same name, provides a
relaxed and friendly atmosphere to chill out. This year the festival will
take place 6 to 9 August.
Address and postcode:
The Rev David Moss, an ex-army chaplain and the superintendent
minister of Meon Valley Methodist Circuit, leads the project assisted
by his wife, Ali.
Daytime phone number:
E-mail
Martin Letts nominated the group that he feels privileged to be
involved with: “Festival goers come to chill out and relax, exploring
spirituality or building friendships.
I would like to nominate
“It shows a Christian presence of relaxation, acceptance, activities
and prayer in and around the tent. People appreciate the welcome so
much that they came to the tent to say bye and thanks.”
The nominees contact details:
One festival-goer said: “If you’d have done it just for me it would have
been worth it; after the celtic prayer night I had the best night’s sleep
Daytime phone number:
There is still time to nominate individuals or projects in your
community for the inspirational work they do. The Inspire Awards
2015 are open until 1 September 2015, so nominate now. We love to
tell these stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They
inspire us, and we hope they will inspire you, too.
How to enter
Nominate your chosen person or project by completing the form on the
right. Remember – we’re looking for outstanding entries that will prove
an inspiration to others. The closing date is 1 September 2015.
JULY/AUGUST 2015
TURE
Individual
Project
Children/youth initiative
Name
Website:
E-mail:
Please tell us why, in no more than 25 words, they deserve to win
an Inspire Award. Please also send supporting material, where
appropriate. Send your entry to 2015 Inspire Awards, CPO, Garcia
Estate, Canterbury Road, Worthing BN13 1BW. Closing date for
entry is 1 September 2014. Alternatively, you can enter online at
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IDEA MAGAZINE / 33
CULTURE
Caleb Woodbridge,
a threads curator
Edited by threads. For more posts like this, visit threadsuk.com
The 10 best apps for Christians
I admit it: I’m a geek.
As a techie Christian I’m well placed to round
up the 10 Best Apps For Christians. As Paul
almost said in Romans 1:14: “I am bound both
to Geeks and non-Geeks”.
1. YouVersion Bible
(Android, iOS, web; free)
When you get the urge to
take out your phone, why not
look at the good book and
not just Facebook? It’s pretty amazing that
we can now carry around the whole Bible
so easily with us wherever we go. There’s
some debate about how much we should
use digital Bibles. I think it would be a big
mistake to throw away our physical copies
of the Bible, but there are many benefits to
the Bible in app format, not least for sheer
convenience.
There are lots of good Bible apps available,
such as the ESV Bible, OliveTree and so on.
But my go-to Bible app of choice is the
YouVersion Bible.
2. PrayerMate (Android, iOS,
web coming soon; free)
PrayerMate is designed
to help you keep track of
everyone and everything you
want to pray for, with a daily set of cards to
prompt you.
Prayer should be a relationship rather than
just a list of requests, but it’s worth having
something to jog the memory about stuff
you want to talk to our Father about, and I
find having a dedicated app for prayer helps
me be more purposeful about it and less
likely to get distracted by other notes and
to-dos.
3. Fighter Verses
(iOS, Android, £2.29)
When I was younger, I had
a packet of Topical Memory
System cards with Bible
verses on to carry around in my pocket to
memorise, and what I learned still sticks with
me and blesses me today. Fighter Verses
offers a digital version of the same idea.
Memorising verses of the Bible is a great way
to hide God’s Word in your heart.
4. Rhythms
(Android, iPhone; free)
Ever stuck for ideas on how
to put your faith into action?
This app from Tearfund is
designed to help you take small, everyday
IDEA MAGAZINE / 34
actions that make a difference in the world,
along with inspiring articles and videos.
5. Bible In One Year
(Android, iOS, web; free)
Several people have told me
that the Bible In One Year
app really helps them in
their spiritual walk. The readings take you
through the whole Bible in a year, and has
helpful commentary each day from Nicky
and Pippa Gumbel of Holy Trinity Brompton
church. Another one you might also want to
check out is WordLive from Scripture Union,
for free online devotions available on the
web, via an app and as a podcast – great for
listening to on the go.
6. Pocket (Android, iOS, web;
free/subscription)
See a fascinating article on
threads.org or eauk.org/
idea but don’t have time
to read it? With Pocket, you can save the
article to your phone to read later (browser
extensions are available for your desktop). I
find this is a good way to reduce distractions
from websites during the working day – I use
it to queue up a reading list for my commute
home.
7. Pocket Casts
(Android, iOS, web; £2.99)
Pocket Casts is my favourite
podcast app. It has a nice,
clean interface and useful
settings. But the killer feature for me is that
it syncs between my Android phone, iPad
and the browser player. I can easily pick
up whatever I’ve been listening to on any
device, and continue on any other device.
There are loads of good Christian shows,
sermons and talks available online, like
Unbelievable?, Theology Network and Mere
Fidelity.
8. Kindle
(Android, iOS, Kindle readers)
Articles and podcasts are
all very well, but if you
really want to grow in your
understanding of the faith, then there’s no
match for reading good books. There are
plenty of free classics available from CCEL
and Project Gutenberg, as well as modern
stuff to buy. Kindle is the most ubiquitous
ebook store, of course, though if you don’t
want to support Amazon, plenty of other
ebook stores are available, such as iBooks
and Kobo.
You can also buy some ebooks directly from
Christian publishers such as IVP, Scripture
Union and The Good Book Company.
9. Goodreads
(Android, iOS, web; free)
As well as reading books, it’s
good to share and discuss
them. Goodreads is a social
network based around what you’re reading
– you can connect it with Facebook and
your Amazon account, and post progress
updates, list books to read and write reviews.
It’s a great way to find out what your friends
and authors are reading and get ideas on
good books to read, whether Christian or
otherwise.
10. Evernote (Android,
iOS, PC, Mac, web; free/
subscription)
Evernote’s strapline is
“remember everything”,
and it’s a digital notebook service that
syncs across pretty much every platform
available. Many of my threads articles start
life as jottings in Evernote, perhaps tapped
out on my phone on the train to work. I also
have an Evernote notebook on the Bible,
gathering sermon notes, insights from
Bible studies, articles I’ve discovered online,
tagged by source and book of the Bible. It’s
all fully searchable, and it’s great for digging
up those “I’m sure I heard something about
that…” pieces of info.
We need your help to ensure the
“missing generation” is no longer
missing. threads is reaching out to the
missing generation, young adults in
their 20s and 30s who are leaving the
Church in droves as they see faith as
irrelevant, out of touch and side-lined
from the very real issues they are facing.
For as little as £3 a month, you could
become a supporter of threads and play
your part in ensuring this generation is
no longer missing – visit
eauk.org/supportthreads
or call 0207 520 3848
MUSIC
CULTURE
The idea-playlist Our list of the best things to read, do and listen to.
What to enter
The idea iPod
SATISFY –
WORSHIPMOB –
from Carry the Fire
The C.S. Lewis Literary Contest,
organised by GOODFRUIT and threads,
is a call for passionate writers who want
to bring their literary imaginations
to life through the power of crowdfunding.
GUIDING LIGHT –
Foy Vance, from Live at
Bangor Abbey
We’re looking for anyone who has a
plot idea or complete story that they
want to pen. From spy thrillers to historical biographies, children’s
books to love stories, we’d love to help you put pen to paper.
THE LOVE YOU HAVE
FOR ME
(feat. Amanda Cook) –
Sean Feucht, from Victorious
One – Live at Bethel
“We’re looking for writers and books that push boundaries. CS
Lewis was a bold writer and we want to continue in that spirit and
see a new generation of writers who will stretch the imagination of
culture,” says Anthony O-Thomas, founder of GOODFRUIT.
GOODFRUIT and threads will begin the judging process in August,
with three projects to be chosen to go live on GOODFRUIT in the
hope of raising funding. Successful applicants will have mentorship
from esteemed writers and support for distribution, should the
campaign prove successful in raising the necessary funding.
So what are you waiting for? Are you a writer? Do you have a friend,
cousin, or aunt brimming with ideas and constantly jotting down
new characters? We want to hear from you.
Visit threadsUK.com/GOODFRUIT/ for more information.
REVIEWS
AGAINST THE FLOW: THE
INSPIRATION OF DANIEL IN
AN AGE OF RELATIVISM
JUST MERCY. A STORY
OF JUSTICE AND
REDEMPTION
by John Lennox
by Bryan Stevenson
In Against The Flow John
Lennox takes the reader
through the book of Daniel
and into the world he
inhabited in Babylon. This
is an excellent book that
provides an in depth look at
the challenges for Daniel and
how he maintained his focus
on God while also serving
the earthly rulers placed over
him. Lennox writes clearly and
compellingly and offers significant insights into both the biblical
material and the historical evidence surrounding it. At times it is a
little challenging, but definitely worth the effort. In a book focused
on engaging in a world of relativism, it might have been nice to see
a little more application as to how Christians today can learn from
Daniel and what that would look like for Christians who take on
similar roles to Daniel in the UK today.
Drawing from 30 years of
legal experience defending
the most marginalised
people in US society, Bryan
Stevenson exemplifies the
biblical mandate to speak
up and defend the rights of
the poor and needy. His pro
bono legal practice, Equality
Justice Initiative, advocates
for ‘the least of these’. In a criminal-justice system that still
supports capital punishment such advocacy is literally a matter of
life and death. Stevenson has also effectively argued for systemic
change in the Supreme Court concerning a more merciful and
restorative approach towards incarcerated children. His eloquent
testimony of hope and compassionate presence in dark times is as
redemptive as the title promises.
Reviewed by Marijke Hoek, co-editor ‘Carnival Kingdom’ and ‘Micah’s
Challenge’
Reviewed by Danny Webster
JULY/AUGUST 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 35
Our new space to look back through the Alliance archive
by Kim Walker, senior information and research officer
Following
in the
footsteps
of Clive
Calver
In the coming months you will be seeing
the name Gavin Calver regularly in idea,
as we’ve explained in the 60 Seconds
interview. As we welcome him to the team,
we thought it might be interesting to
have a look at the idea article where Gavin
received his first mention.
Behind the scenes: a week in the life of Clive
Calver, his dad, appeared in our January/
March 1996 edition. In a packed week
that included breakfast with MPs in
Southampton, debates at Durham and
University College London universities,
a Radio 4 Today Programme interview, a
meeting with the prime minister, a Spring
Harvest Planning meeting, breakfast with
Ludovic Kennedy and a meeting with
church leaders, Clive spent 90 minutes
“shouting and singing” his way through a
Wimbledon FC match accompanied by his
15-year-old son Gavin.
Too small to read? Find a copy of this at eauk.org/idea
IDEA MAGAZINE / 36
LETTERS: HAVE YOUR SAY
In your
words
We love hearing from you, so have your say on any of
the issues raised in idea or make any comments about
the Evangelical Alliance by emailing [email protected]
BAGGAGE OF WORDS
In the May/June issue of idea Tom Wright
helpfully takes us behind labels and such
questions as “What does it mean to be an
evangelical?” to see the good news of Jesus
and his story. Yet so often we use labels in an
unhelpful or loaded manner.
So, in the same edition, in the review of
Martin Davie’s recent book on the Bible and
same-sex relationships the terms revisionist
and orthodox are used - the former is almost
invariably used as a boo-word and the
latter usually a cheer-word. And yet in the
Council of Jerusalem described in Acts 15
it is quite clear that the orthodox are those
who want to stick to the Old Testament
requirements and the revisionists are Peter,
Paul and Barnabas, who advocate the idea
that Gentiles who become Christians are not
to be subjected to the demands of the law.
Well, thank God the revisionists won that
argument.
And perhaps we might handle the present
controversy about same-sex relationships
rather better if we avoided such terms and
the baggage they bring with them.
George Day
Via email
GOD’S MOTIVES
I was surprised to read that the renowned
scholar N T Wright appears to have an issue
Editor
Amaris Cole – [email protected]
Consulting editors
Chine Mbubaegbu and Peter Lynas
Contributing writers
Daniel Webster, Lucy Olofinjana, Charlie
Osewalt, Lucy Cooper, Jim Stewart, Gordon
Hickson, Fred Drummond, David Garrison,
David Smyth, Caleb Woodbridge.
Advertising manager
Candy O’Donovan
[email protected]
Design & Print
Cliffe Enterprise
JULY/AUGUST 2015
with the “genocide and slaughter of the
Canaanites” and the love of God (Idea p 19). I
would be very interested in his take on God’s
annihilation of the human race (except for
eight people) in the world wide flood. He is
right in saying that it is only in the Cross that
we can get an understanding.
For it was on the cross God demonstrated
that His love was painful to the one who
gives love. Parents tell me that it is because
of their love that they don’t punish their
small children, and wonder why when they
are teenagers they call the police to protect
them from their children’s abuse.
True love can be very painful. Perhaps a
reading of Peter’s second letter, in which
he reminds us God has given us ‘Great and
precious promises’, which also include
judgment, and that scoffers will come.
Or perhaps Paul’s letter to the Romans in
chapter 1.
If we keep in mind that God is both holy,
just and righteous, as well as love and
full of mercy and grace, then the Bible, as
understood through the life, death and
resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, should
help us to have a clearer idea of history
from God’s perspective, and have a better
understanding of why God does what He
does.
Blessings.
Patrick Bateman
Borehamwood
Director of media & communications
Chine Mbubaegbu
idea is published bi-monthly and sent free of charge
to members of the Evangelical Alliance. Formed in
1846, the Alliance’s mission is to unite evangelicals to
present Christ credibly as good news for spiritual and
social transformation. There are around two million
evangelical Christians in the UK, according to a 2007
Tearfund survey.
idea is published in accordance with the Alliance’s
Basis of Faith, although it is impossible in every article
to articulate each detail and nuance of belief held
by Alliance members. Articles in idea may therefore
express views on which there is a divergence of
Heard in tweets
Tim Bechervaise @TimmyBech @idea_
mag @AmarisColeEA Spent lunch reading
latest mag. Excellent. Faith-lifting & much
food for thought. Thank you & keep up
great work!
Helen B @Helen_Life Was still #undecided
[about who to vote for] this evening but
made up my mind from feature in @idea_
mag comparing positions on 8 key issues
Rev Martyn Travers @mptravers So good
to read of Christian ministry in our #Prisons
in the latest @idea_mag @EAUKnews. No
bars will keep Jesus out.
Amaris Cole @AmarisColeEA Great
chat in the sauna about #GE2015 tonight
at the gym. Even managed to give the
politics edition of @idea_mag a shout out
#neveroffduty
Gillan Scott @gillan_scott Last thank
you to @Theosthinktank @careorguk @
EAUKnews @JubileeCentre @1KLICE +
others I’ve missed for your outstanding
election coverage
Gavin Calver @GavCalver If like me you’re
a Christian in your 20s or 30s you’ve got to
get on board with @threadstweets. Check it
out today & join the collective!
EVANGELICALS AREN’T RELIGIOUS
Most of the press reported on 13 April that
Britain is one of the world’s least religious
countries and that in a large poll only 53
per cent of people in Britain said they were
religious.
It occurred to me that this may be partly
because many evangelical Christians do
not describe themselves as being “religious”
because they associate religion with rituals
and legalism etc. We prefer to say that our
faith is not about religion but a relationship
with Jesus. So if the wrong question was
asked by the poll such as “Are you religious?”
the results may not be accurate. There may
be far more Christians in Britain than the
poll recorded. Blessings.
Ann Wills
Ruislip, Middlesex
opinion or understanding among evangelicals.
Letters and story ideas from members are
welcome, and will be considered by the editorial
board, which reserves the right to edit letters and
stories for length and style. We regret that we are
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Unsolicited material will only be returned if
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idea accepts advertisements and inserts to offset
printing costs. Advertising in idea does not imply
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right to accept or refuse advertisements at its
discretion. Articles may be reproduced only with
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IDEA MAGAZINE / 37
LAST WORD
Steve Clifford the general
director, writes…
The battle against cynicism
Like oil and
water, cynicism and
hope just don’t mix.”
I don’t know how it has been for you, but
around my household the May 2015 election
quickly became a distant memory. Despite
the tens of millions that was spent on the
campaign, the multitude of words that were
written, interviews that were given, and polls
that were taken – inaccurately, as it turns
out – it seems we very rapidly returned to
business as usual. Except I detected over the
course of the election, and certainly in the
days that followed, what I can only describe
as a growing tide of cynicism against both
our political system and those elected to
represent us. Social media seems particularly
fertile ground.
It’s easy to understand where cynicism
comes from. We have been let down by
some of our politicians: cash for questions,
the expenses scandal, the ‘spinning’ of a
political message, that makes it difficult to
understand what is actually being proposed
in a manifesto or an election debate. It’s
so easy to have a negative outlook on
those who are elected for Westminster, the
Assemblies, or local Council.
A friend of mine once described ‘worry’
as unsanctified prayer. Perhaps cynicism
is unsanctified ‘prophecy’. It’s a cancer
that pervades British society, and is sadly
impacting the Church. It allows us to believe
the worst, and leaves us surprised if things
go well. A cynic knows everything, while
believing in nothing. With cynicism there is
little place for commitment, celebration or
IDEA MAGAZINE / 38
indeed joy. Cynics become judge and jury of
every situation. Like oil and water, cynicism
and hope just don’t mix.
As part of my role as general director of
the Evangelical Alliance, I have had the
opportunity to meet a number of politicians
and those called to public service. My
experience is that the vast majority of the
people I meet go into politics because they
want to make a difference. They want the
well-being of those whom they are elected
to represent; they really do want to work
for a better world. They haven’t entered
the political arena for money – there are far
more lucrative careers – and they certainly
haven’t embarked on politics for an easy life.
The job of your average local MP is far from
glamorous: long and anti-social hours, often
living away from home, with the potential of
facing a public attack and humiliation.
Now let’s be absolutely clear, our elected
politicians need to be held accountable,
both for the policies they propose and the
honesty of their dealing. None of us are
immune from the corrupting attractions of
power and status.
As a Christian, I find myself in a complex
relationship with those in power, even those
elected by a democratic process in which
I participated. I recognise that there is a
higher authority, one to whom I have given
my ultimate allegiance. This is to my Saviour,
my Lord, and indeed the Lord of all the
earth, to whom ultimately every knee will
bow and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord.
This means that we as a Christian
community have a responsibility to
challenge those in power when they have
failed to fulfil their God-given duty to seek
the common good, and failed to recognise
their responsibility to steward wisely the
resources of creation for the wellbeing of all.
Despite my allegiance to this higher
authority and the challenge I might be
called to bring, I’m also required to dig
deeper. I can’t give way to cynicism, as I’m
called to engage and particularly to pray.
Paul writing in the context of a brutally
repressive Roman empire exhorts his readers
“that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people – for
kings and all those in authority, that we may
live peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness
and Holiness. This is good and pleasing to
God our Saviour, who wants all people to
be saved and come to the knowledge of
the truth.” 1 Timothy chapter 2:1-4. It’s hard
to pray with conviction if I’m cynical. It’s
difficult to nurture relationships with those
who are called to public service if I’m cynical.
I’m unlikely to get involved in a political
party if I’m cynical.
So let’s be the people of hope, not denying
the reality of the world that surrounds us,
but seeing a greater reality and working to
see it outworked in our lives and the lives of
those who surround us.
JULY/AUGUST 2015
IDEA MAGAZINE / 39