Streetpaper 83 - The Jesus Army

modern JESUS army Streetpaper No. 83 Page 8
GIVIN’ IT
IT LOADS
Energetic young Christians make a song and dance
about their faith in London’s Trafalgar Square
“BEING A Christian is
not boring, it’s exciting”
enthuses Hannah,
19, describing what
makes hundreds of
young people like her
leap about like loonies
in Trafalgar Square. “I
want to show people
that” she continues. “I
want to express God’s
love to everyone.”
These young people are
enthusiastic about their
Christian faith. Church, it
would appear, is not just for
old ladies after all.
>>
I BELIEVE IN JESUS
Experience the forgiveness
and healing Jesus brings
SO THERE was this young
Jewish prophet, name of
Jesus. Lived around 2,000
years ago. He got Himself
into trouble with the religious
bosses of His day through
some of the things He did and
said. Forgiving sins. Healing.
Letting people worship Him.
(Who did he think He was,
God?)
So they handed Him over
to the Romans who executed
Him by the particularly gory
method of crucifi xion. End of
“Last year, more than a
thousand of us gathered in
London” says Danny, also 19.
“We marched from Marble
Arch to Trafalgar Square,
dancing all the way and then
the event on the Square began.
There were demos and
dramas about what Jesus is
doing today across the UK.
We want everyone to see
that Jesus is worth getting
excited about.”
The modern Jesus army
hold a celebration rally
in Trafalgar Square every
summer with its focal point
at the base of the famous
Nelson’s column.
“We can express love
for Jesus freely without
story. That much is history.
But was that the end of
the story? Because if it
was there is very, very little
chance that you’d have ever
heard of Jesus (and even
less chance that you’d be
reading a newspaper all
about Him 2,000 years later).
Thousands of rebel Jews
were mercilessly slaughtered
by the Romans in that
troubled period of history,
many by crucifi xion. Jesus
was just one more.
worrying what people think”
says Andy, 19, “cos that’s
what it’s all about. Leaping
about is a way of expressing
love for God. Plus it attracts
attention to our cause, shows
how we’re a full on church,
ready for action.”
But it wasn’t only young
people at Trafalgar Square
that day. Christianity is still
for old ladies, too, apparently.
One of them, Selina,
65, describes the event: “It’s
like heaven has landed on
earth with all its colour. The
atmosphere in Trafalgar
Square is incredible.”
• The modern Jesus army
is at Trafalgar Square on
19 July 2008
“I believe...” #4
Except He wasn’t. Because
His followers claimed
He came back from the
dead, gloriously and forever
alive.
Now, if Jesus’ enemies had
wanted to poop the party, it
should have been easy: produce
the body. But they never
did. His body had gone. So
they put it about that Jesus’
followers had nicked it (somehow
they got past the Roman
guard of military professionals
who would be executed if the
body was stolen). The problem
was that Jesus’ followers
didn’t act like guilty liars. Bold
as brass, they strode around
the Roman Empire saying
“Jesus is alive, He’s the Son
of God, He’s beaten death,
and to prove it we’ve seen
Him”. And they were prepared
to die for it.
That’s why you’re hearing
about Jesus today. The
Christian Church through the
centuries has passed on the
message – Jesus is alive. We
know Him. He’s ruling from
heaven – and anyone can experience
the forgiveness and
healing He brings – today!
And that includes you. Don’t
miss out.
NEWSPAPERS
SUPPORT RECYCLING
Re cy cled paper made up
79.0% of the raw ma te ri al
for UK
news pa pers
in 2007
FOR INFO CHECK OUT
WWW.JESUS.ORG.UK/RAW
OR EMAIL: RAW@JESUS.ORG.UK
mJa UK: 0845 123 5550
(local call rate)
www.jesus.org.uk
Email: info@jesus.org.uk
For help/info:
Jesus Fellowship, FREEPOST,
Nether Heyford, North amp ton
NN7 3BR
Tel: 0845 166 8171
Fax: 0845 166 8178
modern Jesus army
presents
The
unmissable
youth event
raw 2008: Called to the Cross
raw real and wild
date:
7-9 August 2008
Venue:
Jesus Centre,
abington square
northampton uk
age limit: 15-35
parental consent required
for those under 18
raw
REAL AND WILD