Slaves of all - Jesus Army
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esusLife<br />
#76<br />
three/2007<br />
FREE<br />
INSIDE:<br />
Apostolic<br />
Church<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> in<br />
the capital<br />
Inside<br />
story<br />
<strong>Slaves</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>all</strong><br />
A UK JESUS PEO PLE MAGAZINE from the Multiply Network and Je sus Fel low ship/modern JESUS army (mJa)<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 1
content<br />
n ts<br />
INTO UNCHARTED TERRAIN<br />
Deb Stockley’s journey into celibacy<br />
25-26<br />
JESUS CENTRES<br />
London <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Centre opening<br />
THE JESUS FEL LOW SHIP CHURCH, which is also known as<br />
the <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> and in cludes the New Cre a tion Chris tian Commu<br />
ni ty, up holds the his tor ic Chris tian faith, be ing re formed,<br />
evan gel i cal and char is mat ic.<br />
It practises believer’s bap tism and the New Tes ta ment<br />
reality <strong>of</strong> Christ’s Church; be liev ing in Al mighty God: Father,<br />
Son and Holy Spirit; in the full divinity, aton ing death and<br />
bodily res ur rec tion <strong>of</strong> the Lord <strong>Jesus</strong> Christ; in the Bible as<br />
God’s word, fully in spired by the Holy Spirit.<br />
This Church desires to wit ness to the Lord ship <strong>of</strong> Je sus Christ<br />
over and in His Church; and, by holy char ac ter, righteous society<br />
and evan gel i cal tes ti mo ny to de clare that Je sus Christ, Son <strong>of</strong><br />
God, the only Saviour, is the way, the truth and the life, and<br />
through Him alone can we find and enter the king dom <strong>of</strong> God.<br />
This church proclaims free grace, jus ti fi ca tion by faith in Christ<br />
and the sealing and sanc ti fy ing baptism in the Holy Spir it.<br />
© 2007 <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship Church, Nether Heyford, Northampton<br />
NN7 3LB, UK. Editor James Stacey. Reproduction in any form<br />
requires written permission. The <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship does not<br />
necessarily agree with <strong>all</strong> the views expressed in articles and<br />
interviews printed in this magazine. Unless otherwise indicated,<br />
<strong>all</strong> scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW<br />
INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984<br />
International Bible Society. Used by permission <strong>of</strong> Hodder &<br />
Stoughton Ltd, a member <strong>of</strong> the Hodder headline Plc Group. All<br />
rights reserved. Photographs in this magazine are copyright <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Fellowship Church unless otherwise noted. The <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship is<br />
part <strong>of</strong> Multiply Christian Network. Both the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship and<br />
Multiply Christian Network are members <strong>of</strong> the Evangelical Alliance<br />
UK. <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship Life Trust Registered Charity number 1107952.<br />
con ten t s<br />
5-7<br />
THE<br />
PROPHETIC<br />
WORD<br />
Apostolic<br />
Church<br />
PASSION FROM THE PAST<br />
Aidan and Alopen: Apostles<br />
RANT AND RAVE - mJa members speak out!<br />
3-4 Church Alive<br />
8 Electronic Postbag<br />
14-16 <strong>Jesus</strong> In The Capital<br />
17-21 Multiply Christian Network<br />
22-23 Spiritual Search - Carmino<br />
27-28 Inside Story<br />
29 Radical Bites<br />
30-31 Rant & Rave<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life One/2007 Page 2<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
Comments from Noel Stanton and<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the Apostolic Team,<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship UK/mJa<br />
ALIVE<br />
ALIVE<br />
church ALIVE<br />
<strong>Slaves</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>all</strong><br />
Noel Stanton<br />
THE NEW TESTAMENT warns<br />
<strong>of</strong> the danger <strong>of</strong> having spiritual<br />
gifts without love. Charismatic<br />
Christians can be guilty <strong>of</strong> this.<br />
The gifts are there, but where<br />
is the fruit <strong>of</strong> the Holy Spirit?<br />
Among the virtues produced<br />
through the fullness <strong>of</strong> the Spirit<br />
is meekness or humility.<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> says “I am meek and<br />
lowly in heart.” He came to<br />
“serve” and to “give His life”. He<br />
made it clear that only the meek<br />
will “inherit the earth”.<br />
Humility, <strong>Jesus</strong> said, must be<br />
the character <strong>of</strong> His followers.<br />
The humble would be lifted, the<br />
proud would be humiliated. The<br />
first would be the last, and the<br />
last first. The poor would rise,<br />
the rich would fade.<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
The strength<br />
<strong>of</strong> meekness<br />
His was a radical revolutionary<br />
word which overturns the norms<br />
<strong>of</strong> society. And He showed this<br />
by the poverty and humility <strong>of</strong><br />
His own life and lifestyle.<br />
So meekness is not weakness.<br />
Meekness is spiritual character,<br />
spiritual strength. The meek<br />
have nothing to prove. They are<br />
relaxed and confident, able to<br />
take their place and play their<br />
part in the service <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>. They<br />
can be very gifted but have<br />
learned that to be effective they<br />
must be meek, servant-hearted.<br />
The meek are never over-sensitive<br />
or defensive. They are always<br />
<strong>of</strong> a teachable spirit. They<br />
never grumble, never complain.<br />
They live “crucified with Christ”,<br />
with Christ living through them.<br />
YES, SLAVES and<br />
servants <strong>of</strong> <strong>all</strong>! And<br />
that means servants<br />
<strong>of</strong> those who<br />
are with us in the<br />
church and servants<br />
<strong>of</strong> those around us<br />
in society, who need<br />
the good news that<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> saves.<br />
The New Testament<br />
tells us to be<br />
servant-hearted,<br />
slaves <strong>of</strong> <strong>all</strong>. <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
said it! Paul said it!<br />
And <strong>Jesus</strong> demonstrated<br />
servanthood<br />
in His compassion<br />
for people and in the<br />
way He washed the<br />
feet <strong>of</strong> His disciples.<br />
Our cover picture<br />
shows the washing <strong>of</strong><br />
feet at a recent mJa<br />
event. For us it symbolises<br />
our desire to<br />
serve, and to show<br />
love. <strong>Jesus</strong> said we<br />
must imitate Him by<br />
loving one another<br />
as He loves: His new<br />
commandment. This<br />
love must be shown<br />
in our servanthearted<br />
willingness<br />
to share our lives<br />
with one another.<br />
And as <strong>Jesus</strong> said,<br />
They show the new spirit and<br />
new heart which became theirs<br />
through new birth.<br />
Long ago George Fox, the<br />
founder <strong>of</strong> the Quakers, put it<br />
like this: “I knew <strong>Jesus</strong>, and He<br />
was very precious to my soul:<br />
but I found something in me<br />
that would not keep sweet and<br />
patient and kind. I did what<br />
I could to keep it down but it<br />
was there. I besought <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
those who are first<br />
(as leaders) in His<br />
church can only be<br />
genuine leaders if<br />
they are the best<br />
slaves or servants.<br />
You don’t have<br />
to be upper class,<br />
wealthy, top in your<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>ession, or to<br />
have a good education,<br />
to be “great” in<br />
serving <strong>Jesus</strong> in the<br />
church. Those with<br />
little to show in human<br />
achievement<br />
can become alive in<br />
the Holy Spirit, with<br />
a servant-heartedness<br />
and love for<br />
people which gives<br />
them authority for<br />
leadership.<br />
The c<strong>all</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
is always to selfdenial,<br />
to take up<br />
our cross with Him.<br />
We are to die to the<br />
“old self” with <strong>all</strong> its<br />
pride, deceit, envy<br />
and jealousy. And<br />
this “old self” death,<br />
followed by our<br />
“rising with Him”<br />
is made real in our<br />
baptism in water<br />
(burial) and our<br />
baptism in the Spirit<br />
(rising). And at the<br />
same time the Holy<br />
Spirit baptises us<br />
into Christ’s body,<br />
His Church. And so<br />
churches become<br />
energised with<br />
God’s love in a powerful,<br />
committed<br />
brotherhood displaying<br />
real, sharing<br />
servanthood.<br />
“<strong>Slaves</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>all</strong>”<br />
means friendship<br />
evangelism among<br />
people <strong>of</strong> <strong>all</strong> ages<br />
and <strong>all</strong> kinds we<br />
meet in streets,<br />
homes, pubs and<br />
clubs. The <strong>Jesus</strong>like<br />
serving heart<br />
empathises with the<br />
needs <strong>of</strong> people and<br />
shows them how<br />
their guilt can be<br />
removed, their hurts<br />
healed and their<br />
loneliness replaced<br />
by real love and<br />
friendship.<br />
Yes, let’s be<br />
like <strong>Jesus</strong>, full <strong>of</strong><br />
compassion toward<br />
people, letting them<br />
know that Christianity<br />
is not dogma<br />
but living, servanthearted<br />
love.<br />
to do something for me, and<br />
when I gave Him my will, He<br />
came to my heart and took out<br />
<strong>all</strong> that would not be sweet, <strong>all</strong><br />
that would not be kind, <strong>all</strong> that<br />
would not be patient, and then<br />
He shut the door.”<br />
Noel Stanton heads up the <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Fellowship’s apostolic team.<br />
He lives in a New Creation<br />
Christian Community house in<br />
Northamptonshire.<br />
more overleaf<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 3
from overleaf<br />
Huw Lewis<br />
Prophetic compassion<br />
THE SUCCESS <strong>of</strong> the ministry<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong> was largely a result <strong>of</strong><br />
two contrasting aspects <strong>of</strong> His<br />
life and work uniting together.<br />
It was if ‘two arms’ were in<br />
operation.<br />
The first arm was one <strong>of</strong><br />
prophetic life. <strong>Jesus</strong> spoke the<br />
clear word <strong>of</strong> God that revealed,<br />
uncovered, convicted and illuminated.<br />
He broke through<br />
the hard places, ch<strong>all</strong>enged<br />
the religious hypocrisy <strong>of</strong> His<br />
time and disturbed the settled<br />
norms. But His life also reflected<br />
His words, demonstrating the<br />
power <strong>of</strong> an alternative way <strong>of</strong><br />
living. He was uncomfortable to<br />
be with but He opened up new<br />
ways to those around Him.<br />
The second arm was His<br />
compassion. He understood the<br />
outcast and rejected, reached<br />
out to the marginalised and<br />
abandoned and loved <strong>all</strong> kinds<br />
<strong>of</strong> people. He identified with<br />
broken humanity and brought<br />
healing grace to many wounded<br />
people. Touching lepers, letting<br />
a prostitute wash His feet, weeping<br />
over the city that rejected<br />
Him, deeply concerned for the<br />
‘sheep without a shepherd’ – <strong>all</strong><br />
showed care in action.<br />
The combination <strong>of</strong> these<br />
two arms produced a powerful<br />
‘prophetic compassion’ that<br />
impacted lives. Combining truth<br />
and love in His life ands words,<br />
He made a deep impression on<br />
<strong>all</strong> He encountered – He just<br />
couldn’t be ignored!<br />
More than ever, such a combination<br />
is very much needed<br />
in the ministry <strong>of</strong> the Church<br />
today to ensure that lives are<br />
changed in a lasting way.<br />
Huw Lewis is a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship’s apostolic<br />
team. He lives in a New Creation<br />
Christian Community house in<br />
Kettering, Northamptonshire.<br />
Steve Calam<br />
Expose to expel<br />
IN OUR ROOF garden,<br />
what had been strong<br />
healthy plants had begun<br />
to wither and die.<br />
On investigation I discovered vine-weevil<br />
grubs eating the roots and adults eating the<br />
leaves. Shining a torch on them at night<br />
when they were active – to expose and then<br />
expel them – proved most effective!<br />
In a similar way God has been exposing<br />
those things which prevent us from being<br />
spiritu<strong>all</strong>y healthy and fruitful: deep soul<br />
issues and demonic oppressions have been<br />
exposed by the searchlight <strong>of</strong> the Holy<br />
Spirit.<br />
It can be uncomfortable, but the reason<br />
is that they might be dealt with. Healing<br />
prayer and a renewed understanding<br />
and practice <strong>of</strong> deliverance<br />
ministry have resulted<br />
in a new-found freedom and<br />
fruitfulness for some.<br />
It will take faith and courage<br />
as we pray together for a greater<br />
anointing in the Holy Spirit to<br />
<strong>all</strong>ow Him to continue to expose<br />
and to expel so that we might<br />
become more effective disciples<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>.<br />
Steve Calam is a member <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship’s apostolic<br />
team. He lives in a New Creation<br />
Christian Community house in<br />
central London.<br />
FINAL MIX<br />
SINCE THE last <strong>Jesus</strong> Life we’ve had two Festival<br />
Weekends with lots <strong>of</strong> blessings. London Day in June<br />
was a great time with a colourful mJa march followed<br />
by the three-hour festival at Trafalgar Square.<br />
In early August came the first RAW (Real and Wild)<br />
event run by our younger people. It ran for three days<br />
and was described as “awesome”!<br />
Sadly we have to report that our Liverpool leader,<br />
Dave Brown, was killed in a motorway accident last<br />
April. Lots <strong>of</strong> grief, and a united time <strong>of</strong> thanksgiving<br />
for Dave before we committed his body to the grave in<br />
our burial ground.<br />
Please join us for our coming events see back cover.<br />
Also, we’re running a nationwide New Friends Course<br />
(similar to Alpha) from 3 October to 14 November.<br />
Do contact us if you would like to join us or if we<br />
could help you in any way. Our thanks for <strong>all</strong> your love<br />
and prayers.<br />
The Apostolic Team, <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship Church UK.<br />
JL<br />
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Life Three/2007 Page 4
Apostolic<br />
THE PROPHETIC<br />
WORD<br />
Church<br />
urch<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship apostolic team<br />
leader Noel Stanton reflects<br />
on Paul’s approach to building<br />
church, as demonstrated in 1<br />
Corinthians. And he applies the principles<br />
he finds there to apostolic church today.<br />
WE SEE <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship Church as an apostolic<br />
church; as a key church in the UK, c<strong>all</strong>ed to impact the<br />
nation with the gospel <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong> Christ, to win souls and<br />
build them into a New Testament lifestyle.<br />
But what does it mean to be an “apostolic” church, to<br />
have an “apostolic” heart? We can learn a lot by reading<br />
Paul’s apostolic letters such as his first letter to the<br />
Corinthians.<br />
C<strong>all</strong>ed<br />
It was a letter written to “the church <strong>of</strong> God at Corinth”<br />
by one “c<strong>all</strong>ed to be an apostle <strong>of</strong> Christ <strong>Jesus</strong>” (1<br />
Corinthians 1:2). Corinth, we find as we read, was in<br />
fact a messy church with many problems which Paul<br />
had to address. But it was still “the church <strong>of</strong> God”.<br />
Apostolic church is not perfect church! But it is church<br />
with c<strong>all</strong>ed and visionary leaders and it is church that is<br />
“sanctified” (1:2), set apart to belong to God.<br />
Apostolic leadership will create church like this; they<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
Continued overleaf<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 5
Are you prepared<br />
to be a slave to<br />
the rough-andready<br />
lads in<br />
street gangs? Are<br />
you prepared to<br />
be a slave to the<br />
elderly woman<br />
next door? Are<br />
you prepared to<br />
be a slave to that<br />
young couple<br />
with a baby and<br />
a chaotic life?<br />
<br />
<br />
Continued from overleaf<br />
will impart “grace and peace from God our Father and<br />
the Lord <strong>Jesus</strong> Christ” (1:3). Grace and peace are not<br />
just words – they are power, imparted and received for<br />
the strengthening <strong>of</strong> the church. Apostolic churches will<br />
know this power – a power that comes from the cross.<br />
Cross<br />
The cross will always be central to an apostolic church.<br />
It was central to <strong>Jesus</strong>’ teaching. He said: “If anyone<br />
would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up<br />
his cross. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but<br />
whoever loses his life for Me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)<br />
It was central to Paul’s message: Christ sent him<br />
to proclaim the gospel – “not with words <strong>of</strong> human<br />
wisdom, lest the cross <strong>of</strong> Christ be emptied <strong>of</strong> its power.<br />
For the message <strong>of</strong> the cross is foolishness to those who<br />
are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the<br />
power <strong>of</strong> God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-18)<br />
Apostolic church will have at its heart the c<strong>all</strong> <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Cross: die to your old life. Go against the flow <strong>of</strong> the<br />
world. Do not seek the world’s education: what has <strong>all</strong><br />
the wisdom <strong>of</strong> the world produced? Injustice, war, gun<br />
crime on the increase, a consumer society based on<br />
greed. The power <strong>of</strong> apostolic church does not come<br />
from natural talents or education, but from the “foolishness”<br />
<strong>of</strong> the cross.<br />
Those who have let the cross work in their own life<br />
will be able to release its power in others.<br />
Cultivated<br />
Apostolic church grows. It has growth power because<br />
“God gives the growth” (3:6 RSV). Its leaders are “servants<br />
assigned a particular task by the Lord”: some “plant”<br />
church, some “water” it – but God makes it grow.<br />
Leaders <strong>of</strong> this kind <strong>of</strong> church dare not say, “We have<br />
the Holy Spirit but we cannot grow the church”. They<br />
are humble, they cultivate faith, believe in God – and<br />
grow the church.<br />
Captives<br />
Such leaders are captives to the c<strong>all</strong> to love: they are<br />
“slaves <strong>of</strong> everyone” (9:19), so great is their passion to<br />
see souls won and the church grow.<br />
Are you prepared to be a slave to the rough-and-ready<br />
lads in street gangs? Are you prepared to be a slave to the<br />
elderly woman next door? Are you prepared to be a slave<br />
to that young couple with a baby and a chaotic life? We<br />
mustn’t condemn people: our job is to love and serve <strong>all</strong>.<br />
This will be the character <strong>of</strong> apostolic church. Identifying<br />
with people, not arguing with them, not superior.<br />
Like <strong>Jesus</strong>, making friends with people. Certainly not<br />
just poking literature at people! This is the great work<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 6<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
<strong>of</strong> friendship evangelism that God started when “He so<br />
loved the world that He gave His Son”.<br />
Compassion<br />
In chapters 12-14 <strong>of</strong> 1 Corinthians, Paul writes about <strong>all</strong><br />
the powerful gifts that God gives to enable us to build<br />
the church. Yet central to this and more important still<br />
is the c<strong>all</strong> to love.<br />
We are to desire the gifts to build the church – yet love<br />
is still the “more excellent way” without which we will<br />
be fruitless and none <strong>of</strong> our gifts will work anyway. It is<br />
this deep compassion for people which will grow and<br />
build up the church.<br />
“Love never fails” – that is, it never stops: it always<br />
carries on giving and believing with great patience.<br />
Does this describe you? Is that your heart for people?<br />
There is no power without love. We must “follow the<br />
way <strong>of</strong> love” (14:1) if we are to be apostolic church.<br />
Company<br />
Paul worked with a great company <strong>of</strong> others; we read<br />
about some <strong>of</strong> them at the end <strong>of</strong> this letter. He was a<br />
networker who needed relationships in order to function:<br />
they “refreshed his spirit” (16:18).<br />
Apostolic church works like this, with networks and<br />
teams pulling together to achieve. Paul had his close<br />
team – Timothy, Titus, Silas, Aquila and Priscilla, and<br />
others – and his wider network – such as Apollos and<br />
others. Relationships will always be <strong>of</strong> key importance<br />
in an apostolic church movement.<br />
Compulsion<br />
Paul’s passionate, compulsive devotion to the cause <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> comes across at the end <strong>of</strong> this extraordinary letter.<br />
It comes across in a kiss and a curse.<br />
A kiss: “greet one another with a holy kiss” (16:20).<br />
Paul writes this four times in various letters. There is a<br />
sacred affection among those who belong together in<br />
the cause <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>. Apostolic churches will always carry<br />
this kind <strong>of</strong> heartfelt devotion to one another.<br />
A curse: “If anyone does not love the Lord – a curse be<br />
on him” (16:22). Paul wasn’t going too far here! We must<br />
live in our love for <strong>Jesus</strong>: nothing else counts but committed,<br />
self-denying, self-giving devotion to <strong>Jesus</strong> and<br />
His Church.<br />
Paul would give himself a black eye in order to win<br />
the fight! (9:27). How about us? Are we ready to give our<br />
<strong>all</strong>, to work with compulsive, powerful love to see the<br />
church built and <strong>Jesus</strong> honoured in our time?<br />
JL<br />
MODERN JESUS ARMY<br />
TRAINING<br />
YEAR<br />
AN ACTION YEAR DEVELOPING THE<br />
POTENTIAL OF A NEW GENERATION OF<br />
SHAPERS AND PIONEERS. THE FOCUS IS<br />
FORMING CHARACTER, RELEASING PEOPLE<br />
INTO BOLDNESS AND STRENGTH IN JESUS<br />
info: www.jesus.org.uk/training<br />
email: training@jesus.org.uk / 0845 166 8175<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship/Multiply, Nether Heyford, Northampton NN7 3LB<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
GET EQUIPPED to advance in<br />
Holy Spirit movement in the UK today<br />
GET INVOLVED in reaching the<br />
spiritu<strong>all</strong>y hungry people <strong>of</strong> our nation<br />
and build the living church <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
GO DEEPER in a community<br />
lifestyle <strong>of</strong> simplicity and sacrifice<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 7
ELECTRONICPOSTBAG<br />
PHILIPPINE<br />
GREETING<br />
GREETINGS in the name <strong>of</strong> our<br />
Lord <strong>Jesus</strong> Christ.<br />
I thank the Lord for <strong>all</strong>owing<br />
me to find your website. God<br />
is doing amazing things in the<br />
world and I thank you that you<br />
play a great part in doing God’s<br />
will in your nation.<br />
I’m Pastor Brian Baluca, 28<br />
years old, married to Marlyn<br />
Baluca. We have a daughter<br />
named Rachel Mae. We live<br />
in Tagbilaran City, Bohol,<br />
Philippines. We planted a<br />
church in the mountains<br />
and now we are pioneering<br />
a church in the city where<br />
we live. Serving God is full <strong>of</strong><br />
excitement. We have a vision<br />
<strong>of</strong> church planting and we pray<br />
that God will open us doors <strong>of</strong><br />
opportunity to link with other<br />
churches in our nation who<br />
have a heart to plant churches<br />
especi<strong>all</strong>y in rural areas.<br />
I do appreciate your prayers<br />
for our church here in Tagbilaran<br />
City, presently named Living<br />
Hope Church. We hope that we<br />
can communicate more in the<br />
days ahead and encourage each<br />
other in the ministry God has<br />
entrusted to us.<br />
Pastor Brian and Marlyn Baluca<br />
BOHOL, PHILIPPINES<br />
FIRM BELIEVER<br />
I JUST wanted to say that I’m a firm believer in God. Your website<br />
re<strong>all</strong>y helped me to strengthen my faith, especi<strong>all</strong>y the story where<br />
God spoke to Dave in a dream. It had made me think that it could<br />
happen to me one day. I hope it does.<br />
I admire you for what you do. You are inspirational within society,<br />
helping homeless people and ex-<strong>of</strong>fenders. Not many people realise<br />
that <strong>Jesus</strong> plays an important part in our lives. Without Him I know<br />
I wouldn’t have been able to cope with the downf<strong>all</strong>s in my life.<br />
You should be exception<strong>all</strong>y proud <strong>of</strong> the work you have done. We<br />
<strong>all</strong> appreciate it and I hope it continues for many years. I person<strong>all</strong>y<br />
want to thank you for spreading the word.<br />
Kayleigh Minton<br />
BURGER<br />
THANKS<br />
HI, I WANTED to say thank<br />
you for the burgers today.<br />
The students I was with from<br />
South America thought it was<br />
incredible that you were giving<br />
away free burgers – went down<br />
re<strong>all</strong>y well.<br />
Also, thanks to your<br />
Northampton house for<br />
befriending my two friends,<br />
Hanna and Frida from Sweden.<br />
They said you were amazingly<br />
hospitable and re<strong>all</strong>y friendly<br />
– they loved their stay with you.<br />
It’s great to hear that other<br />
people have been opening up<br />
Christian community houses.<br />
(Until I heard <strong>of</strong> you from these<br />
Swedish girls, I think the only<br />
ones I’ve heard <strong>of</strong> have been<br />
YWAM houses, apart from<br />
things like women’s refuge<br />
homes and others specific to a<br />
need.)<br />
Isabel Edmunds<br />
DERBYSHIRE, UK<br />
CORBY, UK<br />
ANSWERED<br />
PRAYER<br />
HI, I PUT in a prayer request<br />
for a baby who was only four<br />
days old c<strong>all</strong>ed Michal... Well<br />
he is doing great – the doctors<br />
are amazed at the complete<br />
turnaround in such a short<br />
time: it was within 24 hours.<br />
Everything has changed for him.<br />
Thank you so much everyone<br />
who prayed.<br />
Sandra McGowan<br />
LESMAHAGOW, SCOTLAND, UK<br />
JESUS LIGHT<br />
YOU ROCK! I was once<br />
homeless but with the help <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> I managed to<br />
get outta prison and <strong>of</strong>f the<br />
streets and find salvation in a<br />
sm<strong>all</strong> community. I now have a<br />
lot to thank the <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> for.<br />
In my times <strong>of</strong> trouble I believe<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> shone His light and<br />
showed me the way.<br />
Continue the good work.<br />
Long live the <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong><br />
and I hope you find peace and<br />
harmony in everything you do!<br />
Holly Louise Minton<br />
UK<br />
GOSPEL IN<br />
INDIA<br />
MY NAME is Rao. I came from<br />
an orthodox Hindu background.<br />
In 1987, I accepted <strong>Jesus</strong> as<br />
my Saviour and got baptised.<br />
I received Bible training and<br />
also got a bachelor’s degree<br />
in theology from World Bible<br />
School.<br />
I have been actively involved<br />
in the service <strong>of</strong> God as a gospel<br />
worker in various missionary<br />
activities.<br />
One Sunday morning in<br />
1992, in worship, I had a vision<br />
and I was advised by my pastor<br />
to spend more time for God. I<br />
obeyed and started doing gospel<br />
work in my native village.<br />
In the beginning I faced<br />
hindrances. As I use <strong>all</strong> my<br />
efforts in serving Him, in my<br />
limitations, I believe it was<br />
the Lord who kept me safe<br />
and sound. Now I have good<br />
relations and rapport with other<br />
like-minded brothers who are<br />
doing God’s work in various<br />
nearby villages which are<br />
gener<strong>all</strong>y dominated by Hindu<br />
rural folk. In these villages most<br />
<strong>of</strong> the people are agricultural<br />
labourers and workers.<br />
For several years I have been<br />
trying to do something for the<br />
children <strong>of</strong> our community. In<br />
this way I started a primary<br />
school for poor and abandoned<br />
street children in 1999, near<br />
our church. To meet the<br />
school’s expenses, I work as a<br />
teacher in a college for three<br />
hours a day.<br />
If God is willing, I’d love to<br />
welcome you to visit. I would<br />
be happy to have some spiritual<br />
fellowship and encouragement.<br />
Hence I am lovingly inviting you<br />
to visit.<br />
Rao Vkvr<br />
INDIA<br />
OSTBAGELECTRONICPOSTBAG<br />
If you’d like to send your prayer requests, or let us know what God<br />
has been doing in your life or you’d like to find out more about Him<br />
email: info@jesus.org.uk<br />
write: <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship, Nether Heyford, Northampton NN7 3LB<br />
LECTRONICPOSTBAGELECTRONICPOSTBAGELECTRONICPOSTBA<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Thre/2007 Page 8<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
Uncharted<br />
On 1 April 2007,<br />
Deborah Stockley, aged<br />
25, made a lifelong<br />
vow <strong>of</strong> celibacy. “People<br />
were a bit surprised<br />
at my choice <strong>of</strong> date,”<br />
said Deborah, “it being<br />
‘April Fools’ Day’! But<br />
the date was perfect for<br />
me – I love it – because<br />
through natural eyes it’s<br />
a very foolish thing that<br />
I’ve done!”<br />
Terrain<br />
into uncharted terrain...<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
IN 2002, I was engaged and looking at marriage. By 2007<br />
I had committed myself to lifelong singleness. What could<br />
be worth giving up <strong>all</strong> prospects <strong>of</strong> marriage and children<br />
for? Here are some extracts from my “God book” which<br />
charts five incredible years <strong>of</strong> my life. It is hard to know<br />
where to start this journey tale...<br />
August 2002: At the celibates’ meeting someone said...<br />
“<strong>Jesus</strong> was focused and clear. He had no distractions.<br />
The celibate gift breaks through to change things; turns<br />
things around; gathers the committed; draws and wins<br />
and reminds us where we’re going. We’re living for<br />
something that will last forever and c<strong>all</strong>ed to be as radical<br />
as <strong>Jesus</strong> was. To go against the tide <strong>of</strong> this world, putting<br />
love for the kingdom <strong>of</strong> God above <strong>all</strong> else.”<br />
This got me thinking...<br />
15 October 2004: Counting the cost.<br />
I’ve been ch<strong>all</strong>enged over the last couple <strong>of</strong> weeks about<br />
the marriage or celibacy issue, especi<strong>all</strong>y as marriage is a<br />
real possibility right now. Tonight I was tot<strong>all</strong>y overcome.<br />
I was in that position <strong>of</strong> total surrender to God and that<br />
scared me – I wanted to run like hell. I’ve been fighting<br />
not to be in that “full and glad surrender” position, but<br />
the more I’ve fought it the more God has been taking me<br />
on that journey and the whole thing is blowing me away.<br />
I know that from now on whatever God asks me to do, I<br />
Continued overleaf<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 9
Continued from overleaf<br />
will do it. Whatever His way for me – He’ll make it very<br />
clear. Either way it will be red hot!<br />
1 January 2004: Well God, it’s been a while – re<strong>all</strong>y insecure<br />
today – definite grey day.<br />
Do I have some serious flaws in myself and my spirit to<br />
be thinking and feeling like this? Let me be true.<br />
18 January 2004: After reading 1 Corinthians 7<br />
God, I want to be “anxious about Your affairs”. Leaving<br />
marriage behind will always be a wound in my heart but<br />
God I do need You and want You to heal me and bring<br />
things to the surface so I can, in You, be whole once more.<br />
9 April 2004: Sacrifices<br />
This weekend, a leader said we only know the blessing we<br />
know today because <strong>of</strong> the sacrifices and lives laid down<br />
in earlier years. Within, I know that I want to sacrifice<br />
and lay my life down in order for our church to be built<br />
stronger, wiser, more beautiful.<br />
11 August 2004: Why do I always think I need a man in<br />
my life?!<br />
Such a lie but I’m so conditioned into it.<br />
1 February 2005: Asking God for the gift<br />
At a celibates’ gathering last night a sister had a vision <strong>of</strong><br />
waves, frothing and moving around – that was the celibate<br />
life – people were looking down from above and the c<strong>all</strong><br />
was to dive into the waves – there was a c<strong>all</strong> to respond – I<br />
wanted to but I couldn’t – the moment passed and deep<br />
inside I’m gutted that I’ve missed the opportunity – crazy!<br />
Then another word was brought – someone waiting in the<br />
basket <strong>of</strong> a hot-air b<strong>all</strong>oon for God to release the rope that<br />
tethered it – but God was waiting for the person to lean out<br />
and cut the rope themselves. That got me, deep within,<br />
well and truly – I just cried and cried as God moved in me.<br />
My desires so mixed with fear <strong>of</strong> the sacrifice and deep<br />
respect <strong>of</strong> God. As we were singing, later, I asked God for<br />
the gift <strong>of</strong> celibacy. Felt real peace and joy.<br />
I was someone who had grown up in “church” and, as<br />
much as people who are looking to get married are<br />
disillusioned by the high divorce rate, I felt disillusioned<br />
by celibates who had broken their vows – there was quite<br />
a stigma among my generation about celibacy – was it<br />
re<strong>all</strong>y relevant or indeed possible? Surely it was a thing <strong>of</strong><br />
the past and for people who were in their first love – not<br />
for those <strong>of</strong> us who had grown up in church. I had to face<br />
these prejudices in myself and also face the fact that God<br />
was c<strong>all</strong>ing me to be obedient and cross the line.<br />
1 March 2005: As <strong>of</strong> today I am a probationary celibate!<br />
I shared it at our Agape meal – felt sick, scared and<br />
excited <strong>all</strong> at once. That’s it God – <strong>all</strong> out in the open – it’s<br />
Your time – take me where You will.<br />
31 March 2005: Not everyone understands<br />
Saw a friend today, told her about my probationary<br />
celibacy – she was re<strong>all</strong>y cautious with me about it which<br />
was bizarre. It struck me how I wanted to tot<strong>all</strong>y live<br />
another life to her, not a safe life but a risky life. I’d never<br />
re<strong>all</strong>y seen it so clearly before – God keep confirming<br />
Your will to me.<br />
12 October 2005: Am I more excited about bringing<br />
people into God’s kingdom or bringing babies into the<br />
world?<br />
This ch<strong>all</strong>enge was brought tonight – <strong>Jesus</strong>, what is my<br />
destiny? The lines <strong>of</strong> a song came to mind: The passion <strong>of</strong><br />
love had conquered her fears. I know it’s that passion <strong>of</strong><br />
love that will set me on my path <strong>of</strong> unreservedly following<br />
You; that will stop me glancing back at my past loves<br />
and passions.<br />
25 December 2005: That’s it God<br />
Tonight I burnt a lot <strong>of</strong> bridges within myself and practic<strong>all</strong>y.<br />
16 February 2006: Shared my heart at a celibates’ meeting<br />
tonight<br />
The more I share about it the more real it becomes. Like a<br />
gift being gradu<strong>all</strong>y unwrapped. I’m not re<strong>all</strong>y sure what<br />
is inside but I know You’ve c<strong>all</strong>ed me to pioneer and<br />
unwrap Your gift for young people like myself and I know<br />
it contains wholeness and holiness for me.<br />
30 October 2006: I sense a change within.<br />
God – You’re re<strong>all</strong>y doing it now. Since I have put my love<br />
and life back in Your hands I sense that I have given my<br />
life over to Your wild, unknown, daring adventure. Out<br />
<strong>of</strong> the tame safe place into uncharted terrain – it’s You!<br />
And even in the last few days I’ve dared to acknowledge<br />
and admit, in <strong>all</strong> honesty, what I re<strong>all</strong>y know is my c<strong>all</strong><br />
– deep down I want to be married to You, <strong>Jesus</strong>, and to<br />
Your Church!<br />
My grandad wanted to get me something for my birthday.<br />
I felt the Holy Spirit say – get an engagement ring to<br />
outwardly show our commitment to one another. As I<br />
see it we are betrothed but I know that He still has more<br />
to do before I make the full vow. Our ring was to arrive<br />
on Friday, 10th November and <strong>all</strong> that week I had such a<br />
sense <strong>of</strong> excitement.<br />
9 November 2006: The eve <strong>of</strong> my “engagement”<br />
The night before – <strong>Jesus</strong>, my heart is so excited. I want to<br />
please You and tomorrow is a re<strong>all</strong>y precious day – awesome.<br />
Already I feel like I know You more than a week<br />
ago. Oh <strong>Jesus</strong> – His quest, His journey is so exciting!<br />
10 November 2006: We did it!<br />
I hardly slept last night – kept waking up. My day at work<br />
seemed to go so slow; fin<strong>all</strong>y made it, dropped everyone<br />
<strong>of</strong>f after work, and went to my favourite place – the old<br />
village church. It was re<strong>all</strong>y dark, rainy and windy. I made<br />
my way in and lit the candles – it was our time. Worshipped<br />
the Lord, gave Him everything, one by one, piece<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Thre/2007 Page 10<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
CELIBACY<br />
AND<br />
MARRIAGE<br />
Some members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Fellowship have made<br />
lifelong commitments to<br />
celibacy, though the majority<br />
are married and may have<br />
children. Celibates choose<br />
to “stay single for the sake<br />
<strong>of</strong> the kingdom <strong>of</strong> heaven”<br />
as <strong>Jesus</strong> put it (Matthew<br />
19:10-12). In some ways<br />
this is similar to members<br />
<strong>of</strong> religious orders. However,<br />
the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship’s<br />
celibates usu<strong>all</strong>y live in the<br />
same Christian community<br />
house as married people<br />
and families and have close<br />
friendships with them. Some<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> members who<br />
become celibate have been<br />
previously married but are<br />
now widowed or divorced.<br />
by piece, gave it <strong>all</strong> over and I wept. Not re<strong>all</strong>y ‘cos I was<br />
sad but because I was overwhelmed – a tot<strong>all</strong>y precious<br />
moment. I made my commitment to <strong>Jesus</strong> and Him to<br />
me and put my ring on. Bathing in His love and tenderness<br />
and purity. Oh God, You are awesome.<br />
31 December 2006: End <strong>of</strong> Year Church Celebration<br />
Today a lot <strong>of</strong> older people made their celibacy vows. Inside<br />
I felt a real excitement that next year when I take my<br />
vow, young people will be taking the helm – pioneering it<br />
on! Two sisters prayed for me – to form<strong>all</strong>y acknowledge<br />
that <strong>Jesus</strong> has <strong>of</strong>fered and I have received the gift <strong>of</strong> celibacy.<br />
One saw a vision <strong>of</strong> King <strong>Jesus</strong> with His arms full <strong>of</strong><br />
gifts and I chose one. It was plain and sm<strong>all</strong> but I knew it<br />
was the right one. As I opened it bright light poured forth.<br />
It is for me! God! So full <strong>of</strong> the Holy Spirit I couldn’t stand<br />
under the power, just lay on the floor bathed in God!<br />
5 February 2007: Nearly there…<br />
God – we’ve nearly clinched the deal – seven weeks to go<br />
– awesome, exciting, mind-blowing.<br />
29 March 2007: Drawing closer…<br />
God, I feel awed by it <strong>all</strong>; not afraid ‘cos I know You<br />
will be with me, every step <strong>of</strong> the next few days, and <strong>of</strong><br />
course, forever. I never thought it possible – little way-<br />
ward me – f<strong>all</strong>ing so in love with You and Your kingdom<br />
that I’m prepared to lay at the foot <strong>of</strong> Your cross <strong>of</strong> suffering<br />
<strong>all</strong> that’s precious within and rise and meet You in<br />
death and resurrection.<br />
31 March 2007: The day <strong>of</strong> my vow<br />
God! The day has fin<strong>all</strong>y arrived – when <strong>all</strong> will be consecrated<br />
to You. I feel a deep peace as I begin this day (still<br />
can’t believe it’s me – that You have chosen me!) It’s Your<br />
miracle Lord – let Your Spirit rise within me, draw me<br />
ever close.<br />
I made my vow on 1 April 2007 in a sm<strong>all</strong> ceremony and<br />
celebration, with family and close friends as witnesses,<br />
beginning at midnight 31 March. We worshipped, touching<br />
heaven in our hearts. Kneeling before an old rugged<br />
wooden cross I made my commitment to <strong>Jesus</strong>, and to His<br />
Church.<br />
JL<br />
WATCH AN ONLINE FILM about<br />
celibacy at www.jesus.org.uk/cinema/celibacy<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 11
Aidan and Alopen, Apostles<br />
Aidan was a fiery Irishman, Alopen a refined Persian. Both were monks,<br />
both gifted communicators. In AD635, both were, entirely independently,<br />
commissioned and sent to start churches: one at the North-West frontier <strong>of</strong><br />
civilisation, the other in the far East. Aidan became the Apostle <strong>of</strong> northern<br />
England, Alopen the Apostle to China. Despite their extraordinary linked<br />
destiny, they never met or even knew <strong>of</strong> each other. Article by Trevor Saxby<br />
Aidan: Apostle <strong>of</strong> the North<br />
BRITAIN AT THE turn <strong>of</strong> the 600s was a battleground<br />
<strong>of</strong> warring tribal kingdoms, most<br />
<strong>of</strong> them pagan. A Christian prince named<br />
Oswald was sent to the Celtic monastery on<br />
the Scottish island <strong>of</strong> Iona for his own safety.<br />
In 634 he felt ready to deliver his kingdom,<br />
Northumbria, in the north <strong>of</strong> England. He<br />
defeated the invaders and was crowned king.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> his first acts was to ask Iona to<br />
send someone to convert his pagan subjects.<br />
An envoy was sent but returned saying<br />
that the Northumbrians were obstinate<br />
barbarians, beyond redemption. At this, an<br />
Irish monk named Aidan spoke up: it was<br />
foolish to expect pagans to accept the strict<br />
rules <strong>of</strong> a Celtic monastery – they must be<br />
met on their own level, with grace and humility.<br />
For this, Aidan himself was appointed<br />
for the apostolic mission to re-evangelise<br />
the north <strong>of</strong> England. It was AD 635.<br />
Aidan established his base on Lindisfarne,<br />
an island <strong>of</strong>f the east coast, which became<br />
known as Holy Island. From here teams went<br />
out with the gospel, planting churches and<br />
establishing centres at Melrose, Jarrow and<br />
Whitby. By the time he died in 651, Northumbria<br />
was almost wholly evangelised.<br />
Aidan succeeded by developing key relationships<br />
with those who helped to expand<br />
the work and by wise and creative planning.<br />
He didn't do <strong>all</strong> the work himself – at<br />
first, he couldn't even speak the language<br />
but needed interpreters. He appointed and<br />
trusted many workers. Other noted Celtic<br />
saints, Hilda, Chad and Cuthbert, built up<br />
important ministries under his covering.<br />
But Aidan was a communicator. He could<br />
empathise. Any gifts he received from the<br />
wealthy, he gave to the poor. This included<br />
a fine st<strong>all</strong>ion given to him by the king. The<br />
king was furious, but Aidan replied: “Is the<br />
son <strong>of</strong> a mare more important to you than<br />
a son <strong>of</strong> God?” The humbled king knelt and<br />
asked forgiveness.<br />
Aidan's primary witness was through the<br />
genuineness <strong>of</strong> his life. He refused personal<br />
gain, showed no partiality (rebuking kings<br />
when they needed it), and practised rigorous<br />
self-denial. If the king came to Lindisfarne,<br />
he had to eat the same food as the<br />
monks and beggars. Aidan’s approach was<br />
“Do as I do”, not “Do as I say”, and because<br />
his life was open to <strong>all</strong>, people gladly followed<br />
and the Church was built.<br />
If the king<br />
came, he<br />
had to eat<br />
the same<br />
food as the<br />
monks and<br />
beggars<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 12<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
Passion<br />
sion<br />
f<br />
r<br />
o m<br />
the past<br />
Alopen: Apostle <strong>of</strong> the East<br />
IN ANCIENT TIMES, China was better<br />
known in the West than one might suppose.<br />
For centuries a trade route c<strong>all</strong>ed the Silk<br />
Road had linked China with Persia and the<br />
West. Arab and Persian merchants settled in<br />
China, and Chinese envoys reached ancient<br />
Rome. But by the 5th and 6th centuries,<br />
tribal wars had shut the Silk Road and made<br />
China a closed empire.<br />
The arrival <strong>of</strong> the T’ang Dynasty (AD<br />
618-877) changed <strong>all</strong> this. The Chinese army<br />
crushed the rebels and a golden age <strong>of</strong> Chinese<br />
culture began. The capital, Chang-an<br />
(modern Xi-an), was the largest w<strong>all</strong>ed city<br />
ever built, with two million inhabitants. The<br />
reopening <strong>of</strong> the Silk Road in 632 brought a<br />
new cosmopolitan flavour. The Emperor, T’ai<br />
Tsung, tolerated <strong>all</strong> religions and encouraged<br />
the discussion <strong>of</strong> foreign ideas.<br />
The Church saw its opportunity and took it.<br />
In 635, the Assyrian archbishop Yeshuyab sent<br />
an apostolic team, led by a learned and wise<br />
monk named Alopen. They accompanied a<br />
traders’ camel train and arrived at Chang-an.<br />
Alopen had done his homework. He knew<br />
the very formal Chinese culture and the need<br />
to avoid open war with the Buddhists. So for<br />
three years, he and Chinese converts worked<br />
on the first Christian book in the Chinese language:<br />
The Sutra <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong> Messiah. A sutra was<br />
the way Buddhists presented their teachings,<br />
as a series <strong>of</strong> discourses. Alopen was playing<br />
them at their own game.<br />
Much reads strangely to Western ears: <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
is “the Heaven-Honoured One”, the “Master<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Victorious Law”, who has sent “the Pure<br />
Breeze” (the Holy Spirit) from “our Three-<br />
One”. But the Emperor was pleased with what<br />
he read and in 638 made a decree: Alopen’s<br />
religion was “wonderful, spontaneous, producing<br />
perception and establishing essentials<br />
for the salvation <strong>of</strong> creatures and the benefit<br />
<strong>of</strong> man”. The Emperor commanded that a<br />
Christian religious centre be built from public<br />
funds in the Western merchants' quarter <strong>of</strong><br />
the city.<br />
From this base, with a core <strong>of</strong> just 21<br />
Christians, the gospel spread out into the<br />
land. Four regional centres were built and<br />
by the time <strong>of</strong> the next Emperor, Kuo Tsung,<br />
there were churches in ten provinces. Alopen<br />
was made bishop (or in the quaint Chinese,<br />
“Spiritual Lord, Protector <strong>of</strong> the Empire”) and<br />
the Church was able to put down firm roots in<br />
China - which it would need when persecution<br />
was unleashed by Empress Wu in 690. JL<br />
The gospel<br />
spread<br />
out and by<br />
the time<br />
<strong>of</strong> the next<br />
Emperor,<br />
there were<br />
churches<br />
in ten<br />
provinces<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 13
<strong>Jesus</strong> in the Capital<br />
In July the modern <strong>Jesus</strong> army took to the streets<br />
<strong>of</strong> London with love, celebration and a lot <strong>of</strong> noise.<br />
As we marched through the West<br />
End no one was left in any doubt<br />
that the <strong>Jesus</strong> movement is alive<br />
and well.<br />
Trafalgar Square became the<br />
r<strong>all</strong>y point for proclaiming the<br />
life and power <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong> through<br />
prayer and worship and a demonstration<br />
<strong>of</strong> God’s love.<br />
Here’s the photo album:<br />
Banners blazing.<br />
Here we go!<br />
Smiles <strong>all</strong> round.<br />
Filling the streets with songs <strong>of</strong> love.<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Thre/2007 Page 14<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
Loving it!<br />
Finding new friends.<br />
Making a scene.<br />
Jump around - <strong>Jesus</strong> is alive!<br />
Sharing the good news.<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 15
Sending a message <strong>of</strong> hope via b<strong>all</strong>oons.<br />
Praying for the UK.<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> turned my life “upside down.”<br />
Not ashamed <strong>of</strong> the cross.<br />
Building a strong church.<br />
We’ll be back next year.<br />
Send us your<br />
pictures:<br />
You may have pictures <strong>of</strong> mJa<br />
action or similar. Send your<br />
mobile phone images to <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Life mms number 0774 0774<br />
200 or email them to yourpics@<br />
jesus.org.uk. Or submit them at<br />
www.flickr.com/groups/jesusarmy.<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Thre/2007 Page 16<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
multiply<br />
Christian<br />
Network<br />
Marty Brogan <strong>of</strong> King’s Church<br />
Medway talks to AMEN delegates<br />
in ‘the Basement’, part <strong>of</strong> King’s<br />
Church’s social outreach programme<br />
Sky-juice and two-way traffic<br />
In June 2007 eight apostolic leaders from Africa and India were invited to join<br />
the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship’s Apostolic team for the first AMEN conference which<br />
was to prove as instructive and inspirational to the hosts as to the guests.<br />
AMEN stood for Apostolic Men<br />
Empowering the Nations, and<br />
it was Matthew Oluwasesin,<br />
the longest-standing Multiply<br />
partner and Apostolic Man for<br />
Nigeria and Ghana, who set<br />
the scene by saying: “If you are<br />
among those chosen to be an<br />
apostle, you have a vision to fulfil.<br />
Let’s make sure it’s fulfilled.<br />
We are here to equip ourselves.<br />
When we are equipped ourselves,<br />
we can equip others.”<br />
Such equipping took the<br />
form <strong>of</strong> the chance to discover<br />
more <strong>of</strong> the distinctives <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Fellowship and the UK Multiply<br />
Network, to deepen relationships<br />
and to forge effective<br />
ways to develop Multiply<br />
worldwide. Over the 12 days,<br />
the group toured the UK from<br />
Yorkshire to Kent, stopping <strong>of</strong>f<br />
for sessions on Christianity and<br />
brotherhood, setting up and<br />
running a community house,<br />
multiracial kingdom church,<br />
church-based business and<br />
church planting, and taking in<br />
a UK Multiply Partner, King’s<br />
Church Chatham, to see how<br />
the Multiply vision is worked<br />
out in practice here.<br />
Where possible, sessions<br />
linked directly to the location;<br />
for example, pioneering in<br />
Leeds led to a walk through the<br />
local park (stopping <strong>of</strong>f to pray<br />
for a forthcoming campaign)<br />
and multicultural Beeston,<br />
where Matthew quickly made<br />
friends in the local African store.<br />
Present for some or <strong>all</strong> <strong>of</strong> the<br />
time were Matthew Oluwasesin<br />
(Nigeria and Ghana); Desmond<br />
Thomas (Sierra Leone and<br />
Liberia); Gregory Wafulu (East<br />
Africa); Jan Ellis (South Africa);<br />
Lal Rodinga Colney (North-East<br />
Continued overleaf<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
www.multiply.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 17
Continued from overleaf<br />
India); Pascal Orome (Ivory<br />
Coast); Satish Chettri (North-<br />
West and Central India); and<br />
Stephen Mwakibinga (Zambia).<br />
Daniel Grimmer (U.A.E),<br />
who wasn’t able to attend the<br />
conference, is also a designated<br />
Multiply Apostolic Leader.<br />
Stephen, on his second visit,<br />
was ch<strong>all</strong>enged by the <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Centre vision: “What kind <strong>of</strong><br />
church would <strong>Jesus</strong> have if He<br />
had a church? Would He be waiting<br />
six days for a person to come<br />
back on Sunday? I don’t think<br />
so. If Christ would have pastored<br />
a church, people would have<br />
followed Him everywhere as He<br />
was preaching, healing, feeding,<br />
listening. That’s what I’ve seen<br />
in <strong>Jesus</strong> Centres and that’s what<br />
church needs to be.”<br />
In the midst <strong>of</strong> the hectic<br />
schedule (if it’s Monday it must<br />
be Leeds!) Certain aspects were<br />
constant: thought-provoking<br />
AMEN carried<br />
the spirit <strong>of</strong><br />
openness and<br />
transparency<br />
among<br />
leadership<br />
which I think<br />
is absent<br />
among<br />
leaders today<br />
AMEN delegates worship in a <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship community house<br />
devotionals, lively discussion,<br />
provocative questions, and<br />
refreshment in the form <strong>of</strong> ‘skyjuice’<br />
(water) and an ever-flowing<br />
and deepening fellowship.<br />
Multiply Director Huw Lewis<br />
noted: “The interaction and<br />
friendships that the leaders<br />
developed, such as Stephen linking<br />
up with Daniel soon after the<br />
conference, were very significant<br />
– the group themselves were<br />
building their own identity.” One<br />
direct outcome was the cooperation<br />
over the forthcoming Pan<br />
African Conference, which is<br />
being shaped by the group rather<br />
than just one person.<br />
“This week has been very<br />
inspiring and very ch<strong>all</strong>enging,”<br />
said Gregory. “It is a week that<br />
has caused us to come out <strong>of</strong><br />
our own shoes and into neutral<br />
shoes, where everyone else can<br />
fit because we have different<br />
leadership styles.”<br />
“A vision transfer conference”<br />
is how Desmond described it,<br />
and the traffic was very much<br />
two-way. As Huw said: “We<br />
were learning and receiving<br />
from them too, deepening our<br />
own understanding <strong>of</strong> what is<br />
happening in the nations.”<br />
“AMEN carried the spirit <strong>of</strong><br />
openness and transparency<br />
among leadership which I think<br />
is absent among leaders today,”<br />
concluded Desmond. “It explained<br />
servant leadership and<br />
the spirit <strong>of</strong> sacrifice to a common<br />
cause which is necessary<br />
for the fulfilment <strong>of</strong> every vision.<br />
“And it demonstrated that the<br />
above is not only reachable in<br />
the UK but can also be reachable<br />
in the areas we <strong>all</strong> came from.”<br />
Amen to that!<br />
The next Multiply<br />
International Leaders<br />
Conference is in June 2008<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 18<br />
www.multiply.org.uk
Christian<br />
Network<br />
Nothing but the truth will do<br />
Gregory Wafulu<br />
from Kenya talks to<br />
Emma Merry<br />
multiply<br />
www.multiply.org.uk<br />
MULTIPLY<br />
APOSTOLIC<br />
MEN<br />
NAME: Gregory Wafula Nalianya<br />
BORN: 1965, Bungoma, Kenya<br />
STATUS: Married, with a son and a<br />
daughter<br />
CHURCH: Christ Evangelistic Church<br />
APOSTOLIC MAN FOR: East Africa<br />
CONTACT: Email: multiplyea@yahoo.com<br />
“I WAS IN a v<strong>all</strong>ey burning<br />
with red-hot fire,” says Gregory<br />
Wafula. “There was a cross lifted<br />
up, and on the cross an open<br />
Bible, and I could see an angel.<br />
Next I saw a sm<strong>all</strong> light from<br />
heaven shining on my face and<br />
my body shook. Then the command<br />
came: ‘Preach the gospel<br />
to the people who are in the<br />
V<strong>all</strong>ey <strong>of</strong> Decision.’”<br />
Gregory was just 26 years<br />
old – and not one month old<br />
in Christ – when he saw this<br />
vision and heard the command<br />
to evangelise. It is a vision he<br />
has vigorously pursued and a<br />
command he has continuously<br />
obeyed in the 16 years since,<br />
and has led to his current position<br />
as Multiply Apostolic Man<br />
for East Africa.<br />
It could <strong>all</strong> have been so<br />
different. With a father who<br />
was important in the Quaker<br />
Church, the dominant denomination<br />
in western Kenya, where<br />
Gregory grew up, he could have<br />
settled for a comfortable Christian<br />
life. A direct word from a<br />
preacher at a student crusade in<br />
India shook his complacency:<br />
“Your father is a founder <strong>of</strong><br />
a church – but that does not<br />
qualify you for the kingdom <strong>of</strong><br />
God.” Gregory felt the cutting<br />
word and humbly put up his<br />
hand to accept Christ.<br />
To be a disciple takes decisions<br />
– not just one, but many,<br />
Continued overleaf<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 19
Continued from overleaf<br />
Gregory (left) along with AMEN delegates and friends from the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship<br />
over and over and over again.<br />
This was a lesson Gregory<br />
quickly learnt as he chose, for<br />
example, to cut himself <strong>of</strong>f from<br />
his former friends in order to<br />
pursue his new life as a child <strong>of</strong><br />
God.<br />
Within a month he was<br />
elected leader <strong>of</strong> the Christian<br />
Union.<br />
“That re<strong>all</strong>y pushed me on<br />
my knees because I was teaching<br />
some re<strong>all</strong>y mature and<br />
able children <strong>of</strong> God,” rec<strong>all</strong>s<br />
Gregory. His 5am prayer times<br />
provided fuel for the day and<br />
Gregory was soon thrilled to see<br />
people that he had been praying<br />
for committing themselves to<br />
Christ.<br />
Every disciple has to learn the<br />
way <strong>of</strong> working out their faith<br />
in an alien world, with its many<br />
distractions. On returning to<br />
Kenya, Gregory put his Rural<br />
Industries and Management<br />
degree to use as a teacher at the<br />
Kenya National Polytechnic and<br />
later as a management training<br />
consultant. In 2001 he knew the<br />
Lord was telling him to leave to<br />
pursue ministry full-time – but<br />
his boss persuaded him to stay.<br />
It took three deaths in his family<br />
in one week to pull him back<br />
in line with God’s c<strong>all</strong>. Brokenhearted,<br />
he cried out: “God, if<br />
there’s another price I have to<br />
pay, let me go through it now.”<br />
Suffering leads to fruitfulness,<br />
and now he plunged himself<br />
into the work <strong>of</strong> Christ Evangelistic<br />
Church. Its mission,<br />
based on Ephesians 4, is to<br />
equip leaders with the necessary<br />
skills to successfully plant other<br />
successful churches. It started<br />
in 1997 in one member’s house;<br />
today 70 adult members meet in<br />
a h<strong>all</strong> in Nairobi, and there are<br />
three other churches in Kenya<br />
- in Mombasa, T<strong>all</strong> Station and<br />
Kitale - and one in Uganda.<br />
Another key scripture for Gregory<br />
is 2 Corinthians 4, which<br />
speaks <strong>of</strong> “setting forth the truth<br />
plainly”.<br />
“If we have to sell truth,<br />
we ourselves must be truth,”<br />
Gregory says. The accountability<br />
and integrity that he saw in<br />
the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship leadership<br />
structure at the first Multiply<br />
International Leaders Conference<br />
in 2002 was therefore very<br />
attractive to him, and played a<br />
key part in his decision to link<br />
“If we<br />
have to sell<br />
truth, we<br />
ourselves<br />
must be<br />
truth”<br />
with the network.<br />
He and the leaders <strong>of</strong> the<br />
other churches in the Kenya<br />
Multiply Network have now<br />
been meeting weekly for three<br />
years.<br />
“It has made a tremendous<br />
difference,” says Gregory. “As<br />
a leader you suffer from a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
loneliness, a lack <strong>of</strong> people to<br />
encourage and inspire you.”<br />
The five churches also fellowship<br />
together once a month<br />
and work together on crusades.<br />
“Working jointly means we have<br />
more impact than we’d have<br />
single-handedly,” he explains.<br />
The love that reached beyond<br />
w<strong>all</strong>s <strong>of</strong> family, tribe and race<br />
in <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship also greatly<br />
inspired Gregory, who has a<br />
vision to have a church with <strong>all</strong><br />
42 Kenyan tribes represented: “I<br />
see Multiply as a network that<br />
assists in the breaking down<br />
<strong>of</strong> w<strong>all</strong>s that have separated<br />
believers in terms <strong>of</strong> denominations<br />
and <strong>of</strong> races. Though we<br />
have extended families, inviting<br />
people who are not your own<br />
relatives to a meal is not very<br />
common. But I saw that here.<br />
“And the bringing in <strong>of</strong> new<br />
believers, discipling them, that<br />
re<strong>all</strong>y touched me too.”<br />
As a result, when Gregory returned<br />
to Kenya he took in a boy<br />
from the Luo tribe and educated<br />
him. He now has a job and is<br />
almost independent.<br />
What Gregory saw <strong>of</strong> sharing<br />
has also been put into practice,<br />
with church members bringing<br />
in unused clothes, household<br />
goods and shoes to share. “The<br />
church is now full <strong>of</strong> smartly<br />
dressed people,” laughs Gregory.<br />
The ever-present ch<strong>all</strong>enges<br />
<strong>of</strong> resources when unemployment<br />
is rife, the need to support<br />
family, a transient population<br />
and restrictive regulations don’t<br />
stunt Gregory’s vision. For<br />
Christ Evangelistic Church, he<br />
has his sights set on five new<br />
churches in Kenya and more in<br />
Uganda too. And for the mother<br />
church, he wants 250 disciples<br />
– and at least 150 seats (currently<br />
there are just 30 seats!)<br />
For Multiply, the net spreads<br />
wider, with four more towns in<br />
Kenya – Kisumu, Eldoret, Kitale<br />
and Bungoma – plus Burundi,<br />
Tanzania, Rwanda as well as<br />
Kenya and Uganda <strong>all</strong> in his<br />
sights. An East African Multiply<br />
Conference in Nairobi on<br />
Saturday 2 February 2008 is set<br />
to draw them in.<br />
The apostolic path can be<br />
lonely, but God always produces<br />
needed encouragement, as Gregory<br />
found at another desperately<br />
low time: “I was walking<br />
with the then president in a cassava<br />
field. All <strong>of</strong> a sudden there<br />
was a sm<strong>all</strong> dais. We climbed on<br />
it. The president was holding a<br />
microphone and I saw hundreds<br />
<strong>of</strong> people running towards us,<br />
from <strong>all</strong> directions. But he didn’t<br />
say anything. He handed me the<br />
mike and said: “Preach to these<br />
people.”<br />
One thing is certain, Gregory<br />
can be relied on to deliver the<br />
gospel <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong> Christ plain and<br />
clear, whoever is listening.<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 20<br />
www.multiply.org.uk
EMBODYING<br />
VISION IN<br />
THE UK<br />
I’D ALREADY been involved in<br />
organising Multiply Conferences<br />
with Multiply Director, Huw<br />
Lewis, and towards the end <strong>of</strong><br />
last year I was appointed as the<br />
Multiply Coordinator.<br />
My job is to visit Multiply<br />
churches and prospective groups,<br />
mainly in the UK, at least once<br />
a year and to strengthen and<br />
develop relationships with their<br />
leaders.<br />
So far I’ve visited ten groups.<br />
We usu<strong>all</strong>y chat about what God<br />
has been doing among us, encourage<br />
each other, share a meal<br />
and pray together.<br />
Multiply is a growing<br />
partnership around<br />
the UK as well as<br />
internation<strong>all</strong>y. <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Life hears from Multiply<br />
UK Coordinator,<br />
Iain Gorrie.<br />
I felt it was important not just<br />
to speak about the vision <strong>of</strong> Multiply,<br />
but to embody the vision.<br />
That meant carrying an openhearted<br />
love and genuine care,<br />
a passion for souls (including<br />
<strong>all</strong> nations), a desire for growth<br />
and increase, being church <strong>of</strong><br />
the poor, release in worship and<br />
training the next generation.<br />
Leadership teams are encouraged<br />
to maximise the effectiveness <strong>of</strong><br />
their particular spiritual gifts and<br />
ministries and to increase in faith.<br />
We want to see the Multiply<br />
Christian Network stronger and<br />
more united – and we will! JL<br />
UP AND COMING<br />
IAIN’S VISITS SO FAR:<br />
Tony Oldbury Rishton<br />
Christian Fellowship,<br />
Blackburn<br />
Frank Andrews Hyndburn<br />
Christian Fellowship,<br />
Blackburn<br />
Daudet Lumakangilu Living<br />
Water Church, Gloucester<br />
Eugene Tenga Flaming<br />
Evangelical Ministries,<br />
London<br />
Matthew Guest King’s<br />
Church, Medway, Kent<br />
Joe McDavid Glorious<br />
Revival Eagle Ministries,<br />
London<br />
Pascal Orome Mission<br />
Ensemble Pour Christ, London<br />
Robin Caine Church <strong>of</strong><br />
Shalom, High Wycombe<br />
Moses Adebiyi Glad Tidings<br />
Evangelical Church, London<br />
Promise Ngowe and<br />
Patrick Zimba Kairos<br />
Community Church, Harlow<br />
MULTIPLY LEADERS CONFERENCES<br />
UNITED KINGDOM<br />
Saturday<br />
24 November 2007<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
Wed 21 May -<br />
Wed 4 June 2008<br />
Main Conference<br />
Sat 31 May 2008<br />
WHAT IS<br />
MULTIPLY?<br />
Multiply Christian Network is<br />
a worldwide apostolic stream<br />
<strong>of</strong> churches, initiated by <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Fellowship Church. It is a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the Evangelical<br />
Alliance UK. Multiply now<br />
has 18 UK groups and 105<br />
worldwide.<br />
WHO’S IT FOR?<br />
Any fellowship, <strong>of</strong> any size,<br />
from any culture or race,<br />
as long as it is basic<strong>all</strong>y<br />
evangelical. The latest partner<br />
to join was Living Water<br />
Church, a Congolese Frenchspeaking<br />
church based in<br />
Gloucester, UK.<br />
WHAT DOES IT<br />
OFFER?<br />
Relationships between leaders<br />
are central and are fostered<br />
through regular conferences,<br />
celebration gatherings and<br />
fellowship. Leadership and<br />
evangelism training plus a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> resources, including<br />
free literature, are also<br />
available.<br />
MORE<br />
INFORMATION:<br />
Contact Multiply Director<br />
Huw Lewis<br />
Tel: +44 1327 344533<br />
Email: huw.lewis@jesus.org.uk<br />
or write to: <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship /<br />
Multiply Central Offices,<br />
Nether Heyford,<br />
Northampton, UK NN7 3LB<br />
inspiration, ch<strong>all</strong>enge and brotherhood<br />
info@multiply.org.uk<br />
www.multiply.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 21
A Vision for Brotherhood<br />
Carmino Blunden describes<br />
his spiritual search<br />
“AS A CHILD I was bullied. I was frustrated<br />
because I couldn’t do what others do. But<br />
God gave me other abilities: I was very<br />
hard-working and persevering and I had an<br />
ability to adapt to situations.”<br />
Both Carmino’s parents were Catholic<br />
though his Mum was more spiritual – “she<br />
acted out love” – and his Dad had “more <strong>of</strong><br />
a formal” religion.<br />
“Whenever I see my mother, I always<br />
think <strong>of</strong> Mary, the mother <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>,” says<br />
Carmino. “She has an instinctive trust in<br />
God. She just knows that He’s there. She<br />
sees Him <strong>all</strong> around her.”<br />
Another early inspiration was the Marist<br />
teachers at his secondary school:<br />
“I saw in a very definite way the acting<br />
out <strong>of</strong> the religious life. I saw their love and<br />
dedication. And in each I saw something<br />
different about the character <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>.”<br />
Carmino wanted to be a Marist brother<br />
himself but family pressures prevented this.<br />
Ten years <strong>of</strong> frustration followed:<br />
“I knew there was a God but I chose<br />
to ignore Him. I was lost, with a big, big<br />
void in my heart that nothing could fill.”<br />
After a lengthy period <strong>of</strong> depression, he<br />
dabbled in photography (“it helped me<br />
to get out on the streets and be with people”),<br />
but nothing could fill the gap, “not<br />
drink, not walking, not TV, nothing”.<br />
At the end <strong>of</strong> 2000 Carmino moved to<br />
England, near Croydon. On his way to<br />
see a friend, one Sunday morning, he<br />
decided to pop into the nearby Baptist<br />
church to pray for five minutes. He<br />
stayed for the whole service.<br />
“Something gripped me and I couldn’t<br />
move. I was just so thrilled.”<br />
Carmino started attending the church,<br />
but the questions inside increased: “How<br />
can I go to the pub on Saturday night,<br />
have a skinful, and then the next day,<br />
even with the taste <strong>of</strong> beer in my mouth,<br />
How can I go<br />
to the pub on<br />
Saturday night,<br />
have a skinful,<br />
and then<br />
the next day,<br />
even with the<br />
taste <strong>of</strong> beer in<br />
my mouth, go<br />
to church?<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Two/2007 Three/2007 Page 22 22<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
Marist<br />
Brothers<br />
Teachers at<br />
Carmino’s secondary<br />
school, a Roman<br />
Catholic religious<br />
order. The order was<br />
founded in France in<br />
1817 by Marcellin<br />
Champagnat, a<br />
young French<br />
priest. Champagnat<br />
was disillusioned<br />
with the growing<br />
secularism that<br />
gripped the areas<br />
<strong>of</strong> rural France<br />
where he worked.<br />
He decided to start<br />
a religious order <strong>of</strong><br />
brothers, building<br />
schools for the<br />
underprivileged<br />
where they might<br />
learn to become<br />
“Good Christians<br />
and Good Citizens”.<br />
go to church? It just doesn’t make sense.”<br />
Carmino began to sense that God wanted<br />
him to get baptised – but he struggled<br />
with this.<br />
“God said, ‘Get baptised.’ I said, ‘Why<br />
should I?’”<br />
A few months later, another crisis loomed<br />
as his mum became ill with breast cancer.<br />
This was enough to bring Carmino to his<br />
knees and God spoke again:<br />
“Will you get baptised?”<br />
“Yes,” said Carmino, and he began to<br />
weep. “Something inside me just knew I<br />
was born again.”<br />
With this “yes” came the power to say<br />
“no” to drinking and other bad habits. In<br />
their place came an insatiable thirst for<br />
God. Four months later, on 23 June 2002,<br />
Carmino was baptised and he began to be<br />
involved in local mission work with London<br />
City Mission.<br />
But still he wasn’t satisfied. In 2004, he<br />
was in Spain, sitting on a bench with his<br />
mother when he began crying.<br />
“Look mother, there’s just one piece <strong>of</strong><br />
the jigsaw puzzle that I need and I don’t<br />
know where to find it. God must give me<br />
the last piece to see the full picture.”<br />
Not long after, a <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> bus was<br />
parked in Croydon shopping district, and<br />
Carmino walked straight on board.<br />
“I just felt I could belong!” he rec<strong>all</strong>s, “And<br />
as soon as <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> member, Anthony,<br />
mentioned community Carmino thought,<br />
“Yes – thank You, Lord!”<br />
Here at last was the missing piece, “the<br />
kingdom <strong>of</strong> God” lived out in a concrete<br />
visible way, and Carmino moved quickly<br />
to take hold <strong>of</strong> it – he became a committed<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship and<br />
moved into Christian community that<br />
same year, and made a commitment to<br />
celibacy the next.<br />
“It’s been a quick and exciting journey”, he<br />
says, “but it has not been easy. I had found<br />
church – but there is a price tag attached.<br />
“God wanted everything. Everything<br />
meant everything. Each part <strong>of</strong> the ‘everything’<br />
has been difficult to surrender and<br />
I’ve had to fight and fight and fight.”<br />
Perhaps the most remarkable part has<br />
been celibacy.<br />
“Celibacy has multiplied my love for God,<br />
for those around me and for the Church at<br />
large. I can love without measure because<br />
I feed from the love <strong>of</strong> God and the love <strong>of</strong><br />
God is completely unstoppable – the love <strong>of</strong><br />
another human being can be quenched.”<br />
Carmino continues: “My c<strong>all</strong>ing is to<br />
voice in a very humble and simple way<br />
what is the heart <strong>of</strong> God and to be very<br />
clear about it. It reminds me <strong>of</strong> the miraculous<br />
multiplication <strong>of</strong> bread and fish:<br />
a sm<strong>all</strong>, humble <strong>of</strong>fering – five loaves and<br />
two fishes – transformed into a huge meal<br />
for a multitude.”<br />
“That’s where God is at. That is the God I<br />
love.”<br />
“My greatest joy would be for people to<br />
say ‘I saw <strong>Jesus</strong> through you; I saw God’s<br />
love and beauty through you and you have<br />
helped me to find God in a fuller way.’” JL<br />
Far left:<br />
Carmino<br />
breaks bread<br />
Left: Carmino<br />
in Croydon<br />
<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Life Three/2007 Two/2007 Page 23
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www.jesus.org.uk
usCentres<br />
s<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong>Centress<br />
Bottled water –<br />
while stocks last<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life editor James Stacey rec<strong>all</strong>s a visit to<br />
London – and reflects on London <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre,<br />
due to open at the end <strong>of</strong> the year.<br />
IN LONDON for a couple <strong>of</strong><br />
days this summer, I was struck<br />
again by the vastness <strong>of</strong> the<br />
place. It's like 50 cities in one.<br />
A million people in Westminster<br />
alone. Just about every<br />
ethnic group I can imagine.<br />
Vertiginous wealth and pr<strong>of</strong>ound<br />
poverty within spitting<br />
distance <strong>of</strong> each other.<br />
In the baking sun, Oxford<br />
Street was a mass <strong>of</strong> hot humanity<br />
scurrying from shrine<br />
to shrine in the devotions <strong>of</strong><br />
the religion <strong>of</strong> the West: consumerism<br />
(almost definitely<br />
the fastest growing religion in<br />
the world).<br />
But what satisfaction is there<br />
in this frantic faith? Beyond<br />
McDonalds “golden arches”<br />
there are only dying rainforests.<br />
Coca-Cola is not re<strong>all</strong>y<br />
“the real thing” and people<br />
know it.<br />
On this sweltering summer’s<br />
day (rare, this year!) people<br />
were thirsty. But it didn’t matter<br />
– as long as you had enough<br />
cash. The sellers <strong>of</strong> bottled<br />
water were doing very well that<br />
day (at £2 or £3 a bottle).<br />
But what about that other<br />
thirst? The deeper thirst – for<br />
meaning, for forgiveness, for purpose?<br />
Does consumerism satisfy?<br />
And even if it does dull the<br />
thirstiness <strong>of</strong> the rich, what<br />
about those who can’t afford<br />
Oxford Street’s bottled water?<br />
What about the have-nots?<br />
are in the ten per cent most<br />
deprived wards in the country.<br />
According to London <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Centre manager, Rob Bentley,<br />
“on an average night there<br />
are as many rough sleepers in<br />
Westminster as in the rest <strong>of</strong><br />
the UK put together”.<br />
But it’s not only the obvious<br />
kinds <strong>of</strong> poverty – there<br />
are also many with an aching<br />
thirst for reality: what Rob c<strong>all</strong>s<br />
“materi<strong>all</strong>y rich people who<br />
“consumerism, the fastest growing<br />
religion in the world”<br />
WESTMINSTER<br />
ROUGH SLEEPERS<br />
50% <strong>of</strong> rough sleepers in<br />
Westminster are new to rough<br />
sleeping in the year.<br />
40% <strong>of</strong> rough sleepers have<br />
alcohol problems.<br />
33% have drug problems.<br />
40% have mental health<br />
problems.<br />
25% are from the new EU<br />
countries.<br />
Westminster City Council statistics<br />
www.jesuscentre.org.uk<br />
Just around the corner from<br />
Oxford Circus, the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship<br />
is about to open its<br />
third <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre. It aims to<br />
play its part in meeting the<br />
needs people have in the centre<br />
<strong>of</strong> our capital: material and<br />
spiritual needs.<br />
The other day someone<br />
remarked to me “There are no<br />
poor people in Westminster”.<br />
Wrong, actu<strong>all</strong>y. There are lots<br />
when you look beyond the<br />
bright lights and the bottled<br />
water. Five Westminster wards<br />
are also in great spiritual need<br />
and facing problems <strong>of</strong> a different<br />
kind”.<br />
It <strong>all</strong> reminds me <strong>of</strong> something<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> said: “Everyone<br />
who drinks this water will be<br />
thirsty again, but whoever<br />
drinks the water I give him will<br />
never thirst. Indeed, the water<br />
I give him will become in him<br />
a spring <strong>of</strong> water welling up to<br />
eternal life.”<br />
London <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre aims<br />
to <strong>of</strong>fer this life-giving water<br />
– free <strong>of</strong> charge.<br />
More on London <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre overleaf<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 25
esusCentres<br />
J C t<br />
London <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre to<br />
open in December<br />
Rob Bentley, manager <strong>of</strong> London <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre, explains the vision <strong>of</strong> the place.<br />
The London <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre will<br />
<strong>of</strong>fer a wide programme that<br />
will provide practical, social<br />
and spiritual support.<br />
The speci<strong>all</strong>y adapted building<br />
will include a “drop-in” area<br />
with services such as:<br />
· showers<br />
· laundry<br />
· food<br />
· clothing<br />
· I.T. access<br />
· luggage lockers<br />
· phone access<br />
· mail<br />
The Centre's programme will<br />
include:<br />
· support groups<br />
· befriending/mentoring<br />
· “New to UK” group (with<br />
ESOL)<br />
· conversation classes<br />
· “Preparing for Citizenship”<br />
group<br />
· arts and crafts facilities<br />
· ICT suite<br />
· life skills<br />
· other training opportunities<br />
There will also be a tea room<br />
providing:<br />
· good-value food and drink<br />
· a place for people to meet<br />
And a varied programme <strong>of</strong><br />
spiritual activities including:<br />
· prayer for healing<br />
· groups for new believers and<br />
those seeking faith<br />
· quiet prayer in the listed<br />
chapel (which is the venue for<br />
the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship’s Sunday<br />
worship meetings)<br />
WESTMINSTER IS a place <strong>of</strong> diversity<br />
and sharp contrast. From<br />
the Houses <strong>of</strong> Parliament to<br />
Soho, from West End shopping<br />
and theatres to rough sleepers<br />
in doorways: wealth and ostentatious<br />
consumption are side<br />
by side with real poverty and<br />
despair. The third <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre<br />
is right in the middle <strong>of</strong> the West<br />
End: well situated to be a place<br />
<strong>of</strong> healing and help to the many<br />
hurting people in the area.<br />
On an average night there<br />
are as many rough sleepers in<br />
Westminster as in the rest <strong>of</strong> the<br />
UK put together. Many others,<br />
including families with children,<br />
Building work underway on the London <strong>Jesus</strong> Centre<br />
are in temporary or insecure<br />
accommodation with poor facilities<br />
and overcrowding. The skyhigh<br />
property prices mean that<br />
many have no hope <strong>of</strong> a home.<br />
Central London has long<br />
drawn those who are seeking to<br />
improve their lives or who are<br />
escaping real danger. From <strong>all</strong><br />
over the UK, Europe and the<br />
rest <strong>of</strong> the world people come<br />
to London with hope only to<br />
find loneliness, exploitation<br />
and depression. Many have no<br />
entitlement to any state help<br />
and can find themselves forced<br />
into crime. For those who find<br />
work, long hours and low pay<br />
WHAT ARE<br />
JESUS CENTRES?<br />
Places where the love <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> is expressed daily<br />
in worship, care and<br />
friendship for every type <strong>of</strong><br />
person.<br />
WHAT DO<br />
THEY OFFER?<br />
All sorts, including<br />
showers, friendship, a<br />
listening ear, IT classes and<br />
food. They also act as a<br />
‘gateway’ to other services<br />
and agencies.<br />
WHO RUNS THEM?<br />
The <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> Charitable<br />
Trust (JACT). Staff and<br />
volunteers come from <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Fellowship Church.<br />
WHERE ARE THEY?<br />
Coventry, Northampton<br />
and, from end 2007,<br />
central London. Eventu<strong>all</strong>y<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Centres will be found<br />
in other places around the<br />
UK.<br />
HOW CAN I HELP?<br />
We always need money, old<br />
clothes, food and lots more!<br />
Check out the website for<br />
details.<br />
MORE INFO:<br />
www.jesuscentre.org.uk<br />
are common: many hold advertising<br />
poles for fourteen hours a<br />
day at £3 an hour.<br />
In the face <strong>of</strong> <strong>all</strong> this need<br />
(and we must understand that<br />
many people who are materi<strong>all</strong>y<br />
rich are also in great spiritual<br />
need and facing problems <strong>of</strong> a<br />
different kind) we can only hope<br />
to help a sm<strong>all</strong> proportion; but<br />
as we bring real love and compassion<br />
to individuals through<br />
spiritual ministry and practical<br />
help we believe the power <strong>of</strong><br />
God will be released into people’s<br />
lives and the light <strong>of</strong> the<br />
gospel will shine in London’s<br />
darkness.<br />
JL<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 26<br />
www.jesuscentre.org.uk
ON THE INSIDE<br />
Kieron Richards is 21.<br />
He will be in prison until at<br />
least his early 40s. He tells <strong>Jesus</strong> Life<br />
his story – and his message for other young men.<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
TODAY I’m serving a life sentence<br />
with a tariff <strong>of</strong> 18 years. I<br />
can apply for parole in 2024. I’m<br />
locked in a cell 22 hours a day.<br />
On 12 January 2007 I was<br />
convicted <strong>of</strong> murder and attempting<br />
to pervert the course<br />
<strong>of</strong> justice, after six months on<br />
remand. That was the first day<br />
<strong>of</strong> the rest <strong>of</strong> my life and my<br />
freedom is finished.<br />
If and when I am eventu<strong>all</strong>y<br />
released I will still be serving<br />
my life sentence on licence; one<br />
wrong move would end me back<br />
inside.<br />
It is <strong>all</strong> my own fault.<br />
My Mum and Dad split up<br />
when I was about two or three<br />
years old. I was around four<br />
years old when my Mum met<br />
her partner. I can’t say that<br />
I’ve ever liked him, if he was at<br />
home from work I would stay<br />
at my uncle’s until he went<br />
back away to work. When we<br />
were in the house together we<br />
would shout at each other most<br />
<strong>of</strong> the time. The problems just<br />
got bigger, I had been smoking<br />
and drinking since I was about<br />
11 or 12 and when I turned 13 I<br />
started using drugs.<br />
I was always in trouble<br />
at school, doing whatever I<br />
wanted, there was a good few <strong>of</strong><br />
us kicking up a fuss and I always<br />
did what the others wouldn’t<br />
dare to do. Someone would get<br />
something in their head and I<br />
would end up doing it.<br />
I always said “what do I need<br />
Someone<br />
would get<br />
something<br />
in their<br />
head and I<br />
would end<br />
up doing it<br />
an education for?” From when<br />
I was old enough to say “army”,<br />
I wanted to join up and I knew<br />
I could get in without qualifications.<br />
Drinking and smoking<br />
weed every weekend became<br />
normal.<br />
I saw my dad every Sunday<br />
morning. To me Dad was Superman;<br />
nothing could ever happen<br />
to him; he was a third dan black<br />
belt in karate. But in 1999 he<br />
died; I was told one afternoon<br />
that he had died that morning.<br />
My world was turned upside<br />
down, I started taking hard drugs<br />
and drinking more than ever and<br />
Continued overleaf<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 27
For information on the<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship’s Prison<br />
Release Programme,<br />
write to: Phil Ferris, <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
Fellowship, Nether Heyford,<br />
Northampton NN7 3LB<br />
tel: 01327 344533<br />
email: info@jesus.org.uk<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
getting into even more trouble.<br />
I was 14 when I lost Dad. Ten<br />
months later I was kicked out <strong>of</strong><br />
school.<br />
I started to hang around with a<br />
group <strong>of</strong> older lads. That’s when<br />
I got my first tattoos. I was bang<br />
into fighting. Someone would just<br />
have to look at me and I would<br />
start on them. I never felt guilty<br />
about hurting people and when<br />
you get away with something,<br />
you keep doing it. The gang I<br />
was in used to go to other towns<br />
and sell drugs to other people’s<br />
punters and when the rival gang<br />
showed up we would start fighting<br />
like dogs over food. I soon<br />
got a reputation as a psycho. My<br />
mates used to c<strong>all</strong> me “Mad Dog”.<br />
Once I had that reputation I was<br />
hungry for more and was always<br />
trying to make a better name for<br />
myself with the gangs.<br />
During my stay in a behavioural<br />
unit after I was kicked out<br />
<strong>of</strong> school, they had sent me and<br />
some other lads on a day trip<br />
to HMP Walton in Liverpool.<br />
The idea was to shock us into<br />
staying out <strong>of</strong> trouble and at<br />
first I was scared at the thought<br />
<strong>of</strong> going to prison. But after 30<br />
minutes <strong>of</strong> the tour I thought it<br />
was a complete joke and that if I<br />
did come inside I would just do<br />
what I wanted, I was thinking,<br />
“Jail ain’t gonna change me.”<br />
I was in court for the first time<br />
in July 2001 facing charges for<br />
various things from being drunk<br />
to burglary. I walked out with a<br />
suspended sentence and a fine<br />
and was drinking and doing<br />
Class A drugs that same night.<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 28<br />
Continued from overleaf<br />
Aged 17, I joined the <strong>Army</strong><br />
and felt on top <strong>of</strong> the world.<br />
Nothing could go wrong, I was<br />
living my lifelong dream, but<br />
trouble was just around the<br />
corner. One day on a training<br />
exercise, running with full kit I<br />
collapsed with stress fractures.<br />
The sergeant kept bawling<br />
at me to get up and c<strong>all</strong>ing me<br />
every name under the sun until<br />
they realised that I had stress<br />
fractures in both legs.<br />
After a year I was given a medical<br />
discharge. I didn’t know what<br />
to do next; <strong>all</strong> I ever planned to<br />
do was to be in the <strong>Army</strong>.<br />
I got a few odd jobs; in a pub,<br />
a tattoo shop. I even got a job as a<br />
waiter in a hotel, but I was sacked<br />
after three months when I was arrested<br />
on a firearms charge. The<br />
charge was dropped but I was<br />
back on the drugs, taking whizz<br />
and drinking. If I had any money<br />
left over it went on tattoos.<br />
By the time I was 19, I was<br />
getting back into trouble with<br />
the police.<br />
But I got some work on a<br />
building site in Scotland. I<br />
stayed in a hotel with some<br />
other lads from the site. That<br />
night I drank Jack Daniels,<br />
vodka and three pints <strong>of</strong> bitter.<br />
I guess I blew about 100 quid on<br />
drink that night.<br />
We decided to walk down<br />
by the River Clyde and finish<br />
<strong>of</strong>f the bottles <strong>of</strong> Stella. I can’t<br />
remember much <strong>of</strong> what happened<br />
next except that I got<br />
involved in a very nasty fight. It<br />
got too much for me so I split<br />
the scene and went back to the<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> loves<br />
me even<br />
after <strong>all</strong><br />
the trouble<br />
I’ve been<br />
in and my<br />
life can<br />
change for<br />
the better,<br />
even in a<br />
place like<br />
this.<br />
hotel, grabbed a shower and<br />
tried to sober up a bit.<br />
The next day, I was arrested<br />
with one <strong>of</strong> the other blokes and<br />
charged with murder and attempting<br />
to pervert the cause <strong>of</strong><br />
justice. I was remanded at HMP<br />
Barlinnie for five months and<br />
then sentenced to life imprisonment.<br />
I haven’t told this story for<br />
anyone to feel sorry for me,<br />
because I know I have to live<br />
with what I did that night. But, I<br />
would hope that any young person<br />
reading this story will realise<br />
that going to prison is not a good<br />
laugh. I thought it was when I<br />
was 15 but I didn’t realise that I<br />
was going to learn the hard way.<br />
Take it from me: I am 21 now;<br />
I will be in my 40s when I am<br />
released – if I get out that is.<br />
Pretty soon I will be moving to a<br />
long-term prison with some <strong>of</strong><br />
the country’s most dangerous<br />
and violent prisoners. That’s not<br />
a joke.<br />
Since being inside I have had<br />
a chance to think about where I<br />
have made mistakes in life and<br />
have started to write to some<br />
Christian friends. They have<br />
shown me that <strong>Jesus</strong> loves me<br />
even after <strong>all</strong> the trouble I’ve<br />
been in and that my life can<br />
change for the better, even in a<br />
place like this.<br />
As for what I do next, I can<br />
only take things day by day. And<br />
I want to help to stop young<br />
people making the same mistakes<br />
I did.<br />
So, if you’re a young person<br />
reading this: don’t mess up your<br />
life, please!<br />
JL<br />
The photograph on page 27 is not Kieron<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
RADICAL<br />
BITES #05<br />
Forget yawning<br />
through it in<br />
school assemblies<br />
– the Lord’s prayer<br />
is hair-raising.<br />
REMEMBER “the Lord’s<br />
prayer”? Perhaps you used<br />
to recite it as part <strong>of</strong> school<br />
assemblies. I’d make a wild<br />
guess that no-one there was<br />
electrified by its astonishing<br />
revolutionary impact. More<br />
<strong>of</strong> a bored mumble through<br />
strange-sounding phrases<br />
like “which art in heaven”.<br />
Obscure and dull, right?<br />
Wrong. The fact is that<br />
this prayer <strong>Jesus</strong> taught His<br />
disciples contains the heart<br />
<strong>of</strong> His mind-blowing teaching<br />
about the “kingdom <strong>of</strong><br />
heaven” revolution He was<br />
bringing about.<br />
Consider. The prayer features<br />
in the middle <strong>of</strong> some<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>’ teaching about the<br />
kingdom (Matthew 5-7). And<br />
in it there is a startling, radical<br />
definition <strong>of</strong> the kingdom:<br />
“Your kingdom come, Your<br />
Revolutionary<br />
prayer<br />
will be done on earth as it is<br />
in heaven”<br />
The implications <strong>of</strong> this are<br />
mind-blowing. For a start, it<br />
means a life <strong>of</strong> total commitment<br />
to one another – who<br />
says “I’m <strong>of</strong>f” in heaven<br />
(“I’m moving out to hell”)?<br />
It means love, forgiveness,<br />
grace, fearless truth.<br />
It means a life <strong>of</strong> radical<br />
sharing – who c<strong>all</strong>s anything<br />
“mine” in heaven?<br />
Consider. This prayer,<br />
famously, starts with “Our<br />
Father”. Note – not “my<br />
Father”, but “ our Father”.<br />
In fact, the words “my” or<br />
“mine” don’t feature in the<br />
prayer at <strong>all</strong>.<br />
This is a drastic<strong>all</strong>y communal<br />
prayer. <strong>Jesus</strong> teaches<br />
us to come to God as “Our<br />
Father”: that is to come<br />
together as a family, a brotherhood.<br />
Not that this means<br />
we don’t have an individual<br />
relationship with God. We<br />
do. But the kingdom is<br />
about a people.<br />
Furthermore, it’s a family<br />
which prays for “our daily<br />
bread”: a sharing people.<br />
Even the basics – “bread”<br />
– are shared. And if we share<br />
our basic subsistence, it<br />
surely follows that we should<br />
share everything else. God<br />
provides; we share. This is<br />
what the first church did:<br />
“They devoted themselves<br />
to the apostles’ teaching<br />
and to the fellowship (the<br />
word means “sharing”), to<br />
the breaking <strong>of</strong> bread and<br />
to prayer... All the believers<br />
were together and had everything<br />
in common.” (Acts<br />
2:42&44)<br />
So go on. Pray it. I dare you.<br />
But that means you’ll have<br />
to begin to live it – heaven’s<br />
lifestyle... on earth. JL<br />
Our Father in<br />
heaven, h<strong>all</strong>owed<br />
be Your name,<br />
Your kingdom<br />
come, Your will<br />
be done on earth<br />
as it is in heaven.<br />
Give us today<br />
our daily bread.<br />
Forgive us our<br />
debts, as we also<br />
have forgiven our<br />
debtors.<br />
And lead us not<br />
into temptation,<br />
but deliver us<br />
from the evil one,<br />
For Yours is the<br />
kingdom and<br />
the power and<br />
the glory forever.<br />
Amen<br />
Matthew 6:9-13<br />
HAVE YOUR SAY:<br />
email:<br />
info@jesus.org.uk<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 29
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ran<br />
r nt<br />
<br />
<br />
judgement<br />
Mary Davis<br />
<br />
<br />
I’LL TELL YOU what makes me<br />
angry – “touchline critics” who<br />
judge things before they’ve tried<br />
them!<br />
You know – those people with<br />
huge, unshakable opinions about<br />
something they know nothing<br />
about. And it seems to come<br />
out especi<strong>all</strong>y when it comes to<br />
God and faith, to Christianity.<br />
How <strong>of</strong>ten people trot out<br />
the accusation: “Well – that’s<br />
not very Christian <strong>of</strong> you is<br />
it?” or “Ooh – c<strong>all</strong> yourself a<br />
Christian?!”...<br />
They’re experts on “right<br />
Christian behaviour”.<br />
And I think: “Oh yeah.<br />
Because you've tried, have you?<br />
You’ve sought to die to yourself,<br />
to daily take up your cross and<br />
follow Christ no matter the cost<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Two/2007 Page 30<br />
or consequence? You’ve set<br />
yourself apart from this world<br />
to do something more real and<br />
more radical than anyone you’ve<br />
ever met? I think not!”<br />
So I’m going to just say it like<br />
I feel it: Don't make assumptions<br />
from afar; don't think you already<br />
know how things tick, without<br />
ever exploring them; and don't<br />
judge others without ever judging<br />
yourself.<br />
Too many sit back in their<br />
comfortable life, unwilling to<br />
change who they are for anyone<br />
or anything – yet they’re so quick<br />
to stab a pointing finger at any<br />
Christian that has the guts to<br />
stand for truth, to stand for God’s<br />
pure society, God’s unfading<br />
beauty!<br />
I’m not saying no-one can<br />
ch<strong>all</strong>enge me or that no-one<br />
should ask difficult questions <strong>of</strong><br />
Christians. If someone’s putting<br />
their money where their mouth<br />
is then fine, let’s talk. It’s taking<br />
abuse from “Mr Self-Satisfied”<br />
that sticks in my throat.<br />
I even hear God’s name get<br />
marred in abusive language<br />
– because people are too quick<br />
to judge, too eager to slam<br />
down: and why? Because they’re<br />
too narrow-minded to explore the<br />
truth, to actu<strong>all</strong>y give it a go, to<br />
see and taste what it's <strong>all</strong> about.<br />
Their god (themself) has been<br />
ch<strong>all</strong>enged and the defences kick<br />
in. Because it’s so much easier<br />
to mouth <strong>of</strong>f about Christians<br />
being “hypocrites” than it is to<br />
find out what it re<strong>all</strong>y means to<br />
be a Christian, isn’t it?<br />
www.jesus.org.uk
t &<br />
rave<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life<br />
hears from mJa<br />
members, Artemis<br />
Artemiou and Mary<br />
Davis: one about what<br />
makes him bubble with<br />
excitement - and one<br />
about what makes her<br />
boil with rage.<br />
sacrifice<br />
SACRIFICE MEANS ‘to give<br />
up, forfeit, to surrender’: words<br />
which remind me <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>. He<br />
gave up His life. He forfeited<br />
His life. He surrendered His<br />
life. I must do the same. Being<br />
a “living sacrifice” for the Lord<br />
is awesome, man. It’s such a<br />
relief to know that if you give<br />
it <strong>all</strong> to the Lord, He’s going to<br />
watch your back. He’s going to<br />
fill your life. No worries.<br />
I’m just starting out. Turning<br />
my back on the world’s ways<br />
and giving it <strong>all</strong> for <strong>Jesus</strong>.<br />
The relief and peace I feel is<br />
immense. Nothing else on this<br />
planet can make you feel like<br />
this. I just get so excited when<br />
I think about what I’m doing for<br />
God and that He’s going to use<br />
me for His will.<br />
So what have I sacrificed?<br />
Everything that gets in the way<br />
<strong>of</strong> God. That means, for me,<br />
no self-centred independence<br />
(I’m living in community with<br />
my brothers), no TV, no Xbox<br />
(’cos I’ve got no boredom to<br />
fight), no money <strong>of</strong> my own<br />
(sharing it <strong>all</strong>), no shopping<br />
days, no cinema, no holidays to<br />
exotic countries, no staying up<br />
late listening to ghetto music<br />
with my mates, talking about<br />
ungodly things.<br />
I don’t need these things.<br />
They don’t fill me, spiritu<strong>all</strong>y,<br />
like <strong>Jesus</strong> does, so why carry<br />
them on?<br />
I don’t fear giving my life to<br />
Him. The Lord has just filled me<br />
with peace and such a deep joy.<br />
I want to tell everyone! Living<br />
for Him is the only place I want<br />
to be. I don’t want second best.<br />
JL<br />
Artemis<br />
Artemiou<br />
HAVE YOUR OWN<br />
RANT OR RAVE:<br />
www.jesus.org.uk/forum<br />
e<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Two/2007 Page 31
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