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The magazine of the modern Jesus army & Multiply Christian Network

JESUSIssue 85 FREE three / 2010www.jesus.org.uk

LIFE

INSIDE: JESUS ARMY IN LONDON APOSTOLIC CHURCH ON THE MARGINS: PRISONERS

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Jesus Life www.jesus.org.uk2

CONTENTSJesus Centres 8-10 Laurence Cooper on changed lives and doing the dishes

Love changes everything 22 Reflections on life from the blog of Jesus Life editor, James Stacey

Poets’ Corner 27 A poem on the poor from a competition at one of the Jesus Centres recently

Passion from the Past 28-29 Trevor Saxby on a striking example of radical fathfulness in Africa in the 18th Century

Rant & Rave 30-31 Boiling with rage and bubbling with excitement

Contact us! 35 Phone numbers for Multiply churches throughout the UK

“Here we come!” 4-7 The sounds of the Jesus revolution hits London’s streets

Prophetic Word 11-14 What does it mean to be an “apostolic church”?

Multiply Network 15-17 News from the recent Multiply International Leaders Conference

On the margins 18-21 Series on marginalised UK groups. This issue: prisons and prisoners

Changed Life 23-26 Sophie Barrett tells Jesus Life how she found freedom from addiction

RAW: Real & Wild 32-34 Two young people’s experiences of God at the Jesus Army’s youth event

also...

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A word from Mick Haines, apostolic team leader of the Jesus Fellowship.

IN OUR BUSY, stressful, UK society the desire for freedom and peace often rises in people’s hearts.

Life can carry many pressures and anxieties weighing us down. Jesus promises a real inner freedom, even when the outward pressures may continue. Many of us carry pain and trauma from life’s experience. These can add pressure and bind us up. Some of us weren’t wanted as children – maybe fostered or adopted – and rejection can run deep. Others of us have been bullied, abused or suffered from broken relationships. These things can leave us feeling fearful and insecure as well as resentful, bitter and unforgiving. The way to real freedom here is, with the help of God’s Spirit, deliberately to forgive those who have hurt or damaged us in the past. In our struggles to cope with life some of us have fallen into addictions of various kinds or dabbled in the occult, such as Ouija or tarot cards. We need to reach out to Jesus, confessing all that is wrong in our lives, emptying ourselves of the rubbish and receiving the cleansing and freeing power of the blood of Jesus. This brings a deep, inner freedom. Some of us get stuck in old memories and pain. The Holy Spirit would have us invite Jesus into those memories of shame and sin and find healing enabling us to move on in our lives, living free in the present moment. Currently, for us in the Jesus Fellowship, God is pressing upon us a call to live “in the light”. This means I need to open my heart to God – and also to my brothers and sisters. This is the place of real freedom when we share our deepest faults with trusted friends in Christ. Then the power of sin is truly broken and we can live in the freedom of Holy Spirit life. JL

Free

The Jesus Fellowship ChurCh, which is also known as the Jesus Army and includes the New Creation Christian Community, upholds the historic Christian faith, being reformed, evangelical and charismatic. it practises believer’s baptism and the New Testament reality of Christ’s Church; believing in Almighty God: Father, son and holy spirit; in the full divinity, atoning death and bodily resurrection of the lord Jesus Christ; in the Bible as God’s word, fully inspired by the holy spirit. This church desires to witness to the lordship of Jesus Christ over and in his Church; and, by holy character, righteous society and evangelical testimony to declare that Jesus Christ, son of God, the only saviour, is the way, the truth and the life, and through him alone can we find and enter the kingdom of God. This church proclaims free grace, justification by faith in Christ and the sealing and sanctifying baptism in the holy spirit.

© 2010 Jesus Fellowship Church, Nether heyford, North-ampton NN7 3lB, uK. editor: James stacey. reproduction in any form requires written permission. The Jesus Fellowship does not necessarily agree with all the views expressed in articles and interviews printed in this maga-zine. unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the holY BiBle, New iNTerNATioNAl VersioN®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 international Bible society. used by permission of hodder & stoughton ltd, a member of the hodder headline plc Group. All rights reserved. photographs in this magazine are copyright Jesus Fellowship Church or royalty-free stock photos from www.sxc.hu. The Jesus Fellowship is part of Multiply Christian Network. Both the Jesus Fellowship and Multiply Christian Network are members of the evangelical Alliance uK. Jesus Fellowship life Trust registered Charity number 1107952.

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MORE THAN a thousand of us went stomping in London.

This was the Jesus Army’s annual noisy, colourful “London Day”, when we took our passion to the streets of the capital, marching from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, where we hold a three hour festival. It’s one of our major opportunities in the year to demonstrate that God is alive today, and so is His Church. For me, these days create that rare mixture of thrill and downright tiredness! It’s the thrill at being part of such an amazing calling, part of such an amazing people, reaching out to such a lost world – and it’s the tiredness at being on my feet, setting up props and dancing for several hours. I’m rarely as tired as at the end of one of these days, but boy, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The entire Jesus Army take to the streets of London once a year. Aidan Ashby gives a flavour of the action – along with a selection of pictures from the day.

“Here we

come!”

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Thumbs up: for Jesus

Aidan (left) on the march

Washing feet aa sign of love

clowning around on

trafalgar square

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free! over a thousand Jesus

army members joined the march

Jesus on the square

R aw energy: young

men lead the way

‘we love London ’

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father and son loving father and son

everyone valued:

the gospel

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painted lady: fun on the square

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FOR MORE JESUS ARMY PHOTOS: flickr.com/jesusarmyVIDEO: youtu.be/ChMtjBwbwtcREAD AIDAN ASHBY’S BLOG: morethanbrothers.blogspot.com

‘one way’ - Jesus!

sharing Jesus: evangelism

young women dance for Jesus


JL

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A CASE OF CHANGED IDENTITY

Laurence Cooper on two changed lives and a kitchen sink

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MY FRIEND Dave works in the kitchen at one of our Jesus Centres. When he’s

not making breakfasts for the many home-less and disadvantaged people who come into the centre, Dave is also their sometime counsellor, occasional medic and – always – their good friend. But Dave didn’t always do this sort of thing. At one time he had a very different sort of job. Some years back he was an altogether different kind of character. A few months ago a chap called Will came to work with Dave, helping him to cook, wash up and generally run the busy kitchen. Will is a Christian, interested in the work of the Jesus Centre, wanting to play his part. Dave had a funny feeling that he knew Will, but couldn’t quite place him. A vague

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WHAT ARE JESUS CENTRES? Places where the love of Jesus is expressed daily in worship, care and friendship for every type of person.

WHERE ARE JESUS CENTRES? There are Jesus Centres in Coventry, London and Northampton. One will open in Sheffield soon and Birmingham after that, with vision for further locations.

MORE INFO: www.jesuscentre.org.uk

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Laurence Cooper is a leader in the Jesus Fellowship as well as a volunteer and fundraiser for Coventry Jesus Centre. READ HIS BLOG: laurencecooper.wordpress.com

Below and overleaf: life, love and laughter at the Jesus Centres

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sense of familiarity, but he shrugged it off. After a while, however, Dave thought, “Why not? – I’ll ask him.” “Will, do you know me?” Dave said. “Yes,” said Will, “but I don’t want to tell you why because it might sour our relationship. I think you might be really angry with me.” “Look,” said Dave, “I’m a Christian now. My past life is done with, I’m a changed person and I’m completely happy to forgive you any wrong you might have done me in the past; don’t worry about it at all.” Will still hesitated – but at last the story came out. Will had been a policeman. In fact, he’d been in a serious crime unit. His team had worked with Interpol, tracing the move-ments of criminals around the world. They’d been looking for an LSD factory that they knew existed somewhere in Europe. It was producing many gallons – and millions of pounds’ worth – of liquid hallucinogen. For a time they had combed Amsterdam thinking it was there, but at length their search brought them back into the UK and the depths of the English coun-tryside. There they had discovered Dave’s big drug factory. For a long time they watched, making careful note of every movement, every shipment, every deal. When the operation was complete, they had arrested Dave and


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Will had given evidence against him. He had stood up in court to testify, and that is where Dave had seen him before. Dave had done a fair bit of time in prison as a result of that trial. The serious crime unit had got him, bang to rights, and Dave had a large debt to pay back to society as a result. Now for some people this revelation might have brought an element of strain into their relationship. Not so for Dave and Will. Since he became a Christian, Dave has found a whole new identity – a new way of living. His former criminal ways are history. His heart has changed. In fact, both former policeman and criminal have found equality before God: both know their need of God’s mercy and love. There’s no place for bitterness and resentment. So former peeler and former dealer find fellowship together at the kitchen sink in the Jesus Centre. They have found a shared purpose as well, in reaching out and serving those who Jesus cares for. They’re no longer foes – they’re bros.

So former peeler and former dealer find fellowship together at the kitchen sink in the Jesus Centre

JL

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”

THE PROPHETIC

WORD

Many people, all called to be the Church of Jesus together.

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What is an “APOSTOLICCHURCH?Some years ago, Jesus Fellowship founder Noel Stanton wrote this reflection on Paul’s approach to building church, as found in 1 Corinthians. We’re still called to build “apostolic church” today.

WHAT DOES it mean to be an “apostolic” church, to have an

“apostolic” heart? We can learn a lot by reading Paul’s apostolic letters such as his first letter to the Corinthians.

CalledIt was a letter written to “the church of God at Corinth” by one “called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:2). Corinth, we find as we read, was in fact a messy church with many problems which Paul had to address. But it was still “the church of God”. Apostolic church

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is not perfect church! But it is church with called and visionary leaders and it is church that is “sanctified” (1:2), set apart to belong to God. Apostolic leadership will create church like this; they will impart “grace and peace from God our Father and

the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:3). Grace and peace are not just words – they are power, imparted and received for the strengthening of the church. Apostolic churches will know this power – a power that comes from the cross.

CrossThe cross will always be central to an apostolic church. It was central to Jesus’ teaching. He said: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

It was central to Paul’s message: “Christ [sent me] to proclaim the gospel – not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the

power of God.” (1:17-18) Apostolic church will have at its heart the call of the cross: die to your old life. Go against the flow of the world. Do not seek the world’s education: what has all the wisdom of the world pro-duced? Injustice, war, gun crime on the increase, a consumer society based on greed... The power of apostolic church does not come from natural talents or education, but from the “foolishness” of the cross. Those who have let the cross work in their own life will be able to release its power in others.

Are you prepared to be a slave to the rough-and-ready lads in street gangs?


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CultivatedApostolic church grows. It has growth power because “God gives the growth” (3:6 RSV). Its leaders are “servants assigned a particular task by the Lord”: some “plant” church, some “water” it – but God makes it grow. Leaders of this kind of church dare not say, “We have the Holy Spirit but we can-not grow the church”. They are humble, they cultivate faith, believe in God – and grow the church.

CaptivesSuch leaders are captives to the call to love: they are “slaves of everyone” (9:19), so great is their passion to see souls won and the church grow. Are you prepared to be a slave to the rough-and-ready lads in street gangs? Are you prepared to be a slave to the elderly woman next door? Are you prepared to be a slave to that young couple with a baby and a chaotic life? We mustn’t condemn people: our job is to love and serve all. This will be the character of apostolic church. Identifying with people, not argu-ing with them, not superior. Like Jesus, making friends with people. Certainly not just poking literature at people! This is the great work of friendship evangelism that

God started when He “so loved the world that He gave His Son”.

CompassionIn chapters 12-14 of 1 Corinthians, Paul writes about all the powerful gifts that God gives to enable us to build the church. Yet central to this and more im-portant still is the call to love. We are to desire the gifts to build the church – yet love is still the “more excellent way” without which we will be fruitless

Identifying with people, not arguing with them, not superior. Like Jesus, making friends with people.

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and none of our gifts will work anyway. It is this deep compassion for people which will grow and build up the church. “Love never fails” – that is, it never stops: it always carries on giving and believing with great patience. Does this describe you? Is that your heart for people? There is no power without love. We

must “follow the way of love” (14:1) if we are to be an apostolic church.

CompanyPaul worked with a great company of others; we read about some of them at the end of this letter. He was a networker who needed relationships in order to function: they “refreshed his spirit” (16:18). Apostolic church works like this, with networks and teams pulling together to achieve. Paul had his close team – Timothy, Titus, Silas, Aquila and Priscilla, and others – and his wider network – such as Apollos and others. Relationships will always be of key importance in an apostolic church movement.

CompulsionPaul’s passionate, compulsive devotion to the cause of Jesus comes across at the end of this extraordinary letter. It comes across in a kiss and a curse. A kiss: “greet one another with a holy kiss” (16:20). Paul writes this four times in various letters. There is a sacred affection

among those who belong together in the cause of Jesus. Apostolic churches will al-ways carry this kind of heartfelt devotion to one another. A curse: “If anyone does not love the Lord – a curse be on him” (16:22). Paul wasn’t going too far here! We must live in our love for Jesus: nothing else counts but committed, self-denying, self-giving devotion to Jesus and His Church. Paul would give himself a black eye in order to win the fight! (9:27). How about us? Are we ready to give our all, to work with compulsive, powerful love to see the church built and Jesus honoured in our time?

Paul would give himself a black eye in order to win the fight!


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THE FIFTH Multiply International Leaders Conference was the best yet,

with 65 delegates from Europe, Africa and the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia enjoying a packed programme of events in Northampton and London this summer. The theme of the conference was the humble, servant heart of the leader. Apostolic leaders from various nations contributed to leading the conference, which had a ‘three-track’ programme for new delegates, those who had been before, and established leaders. For 40 of the delegates, this was their first experience of dabbling in the Multi-ply stream. One, Peter Mazumder from Pakistan, said, “This is not just a confer-ence, this is life-changing.”

ROMANIACorneliu and Diana Medrea, Bethlehem Christian Centre, Hunedoara

CORNELIU WAS just a young man when he felt the call of God to take the gospel to those outside the churches in Romania. This was revolutionary for, under com-munist rule, the proclamation of Chris-tianity was confined within the church’s walls. In 1994 Corneliu and a small team began children’s Bible clubs for children in Hunedoara, western Romania. Today there are 45 volunteers and 10 staff at the Bethlehem Christian Centre and over 600 children and young people are reached weekly through the Bible clubs. Many young people have given their lives to Christ and over 40 per cent of the projects’

“This is not just a conference,

Jesus Life hears the stories of some Multiply International Leaders Conference delegates – stories from ex-communist Romania, from faraway India, and from war-torn Sierra Leone.

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CONTACT MULTIPLY:www.multiply.org.ukContact Multiply Director, Huw Lewis, Tel: +44 1327 344533Email: [email protected] to: Jesus Fellowship/Multiply, Nether Heyford, Northampton, NN7 3LB, UK

this is life-changing.”

WHAT IS MULTIPLY?Multiply Christian Network is a worldwide apostolic stream of churches, initiated by Jesus Fellowship Church.

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leaders have found faith too. In 2005 a new church, “Bethlehem,” mainly made up of people from the centre, was planted and today has 30-40 visitors. Today, provision is increasingly being made for adults. The Tabitha Project runs daily sewing classes for young women to assist them to find a job in that field. Three years ago a small transportation business was established, and now there are moves to establish three new social enterprises to support the work of the centre and its ministries: the Joseph Pro-ject, whose aim is to train up young men with carpentry skills (hence the couple’s interest in the Jesus Fellowship’s com-munity businesses such as Good Welding

and Good Timber); a charity shop selling clothes and construction materials; and a dental clinic combined with other medi-cal services. A sports field is also planned for use by the various groups as well as renting out to other local organisations. Once a year the small town of Hune-doara experiences ‘Salt and Light’ week when the churches of the district all de-scend upon it to serve the people by clean-ing up the rubbish as well as offering free hair-cuts and sewing lessons. “What school are you from?” people ask, thinking it must be some compulsory school project. “We’re from the School of Jesus Christ!” Corneliu cheerfully replies. “In post-modern times people do not seem interested in what you say but what you do.”

NORTHERN INDIABinny Mathews, Fountain of Life Ministries, Jaigaon

GROWING UP in a missionary family, signs and wonders were daily events for Binny, starting with the miraculous healing of a dumb girl when her father, in desperation, called Binny’s Pappa to come and pray for her. In 1990, aged 21, Binny whiled away the journey to bible school reading a biography of Amy Carmichael. She had founded Binny’s school and he was curious to know more about her. The book included a letter which Amy wrote to her mother in Ireland telling her that she wanted to leave home to be a missionary. On the next page was her mother’s reply – gladly giving up her much-loved child to God. Binny sat with tears pouring down his face: “As the bus bumped along I commit-ted my whole life to serve the poor.” Two years later, one of his professors gave him a word from God: “When you’ve finished your theological degree you should live by faith and God will use you. Don’t join a mission organisation and work under them.” Binny hid the word in his heart, but in his final year it seemed likely he would join a mission going to Bihar, where there was huge need. Right at the last moment, when he had been fasting and praying for a sign from God, the same professor gave a word that some were meant to build on the work of others and Binny knew this was his call to


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All pictures from this year’s Multiply International Leaders Conference

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FOR FULL versions of these stories, or more on Multiply, visit: multiply.org.uk

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go back to his home town. Just as God promised, God has used Binny powerfully in many fruitful works over the last three years. “We now have a hundred in the home Jaigoan church and 30 families.” Binny was invited to the conference by Multiply apostolic leader Daniel Grimmer, who said “Come and see the lifestyle of these people.” “It has really blessed me,” says Binny. “I

that is all out for Jesus, and to experience the power of sacrifice. Community living is an effective way of fulfilling the High Priestly prayer of Jesus “that we may all be one” - which for many Christians is only a prayer.”

SIERRA LEONEAbraham Bangura, Youth With A Vision, Freetown

ABRAHAM’S MINISTRY to reach addicted youth started with a bang – literally. In 1995 he intervened with some guys who were playing with a live grenade. It went off and Abraham lost two fingers. But he was not put off; he simply saw it as the devil trying to stop the work before it started. No chance. Today there are 600 members of YWAV who work to bring the gospel to young people in ghettos, red-light districts, and amputee camps, where their slogan is “disability is not inability”. “What I want to take back from Multiply,” he says, “is that people are of one mind.” JL

disability is not inabilitygave up a career to work for God and some-times I get tired. I’ve found it wonderful that here in prosperous England where there is so much opportunity, people are willing to give up everything for God and for the poor. That has so refreshed my own faith! I don’t think I would ever tire to serve the poor after seeing the Jesus Army. “I am amazed to see a whole church

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COMING EVENTS20 Nov 2010 Multiply Leaders Conference, Cornhill, UK

4 Feb / 6 Mar 2011 Multiply Conference, Kitwe, Zambia

27 May – 5 Jun 2011 Multiply AMEN Conference, Cornhill, UK

Sep/Oct 2011 Multiply Conference, India (details to be confirmed)

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Jesus Life looks at the problem of British prisons, and what Christians can do about it.

MANDY OGUNMOKUN, a senior key worker in a British prison, was once

behind bars herself. Her early life was turbulent, with abuse and a broken home. She struggled with addiction and her crimes landed her in jail. Talking to Jesus Life she said that in prison she felt “safe”; it was familiar territory, inhabited by people with similar backgrounds to her. Only when she came out did she feel vulnerable;

Breaking the chainsunsure of where to turn. If it had not been for a friend’s love and involvement, she might not have been able to break from her past. Mandy’s experience is not unusual. Going to jail is part of the drab pattern of life for many youngsters growing up on sink estates. Her story illustrates the challenge facing our society: how do we turn people, especially young people, from lifestyles of chronic criminality? There’s no doubt that prison works in keeping British society safe from the most violent and dangerous offenders. Overall levels of crime have been falling since the early 1990s. But prison numbers have soared to record levels. The UK has over 90,000 people behind bars; that’s the population of a large town like Bath.

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Nearly half the prison population have a reading ability below that of an 11-year-old

the government have opted to invest in the building of more prisons.” Professor Tom Schuller, of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, agrees: “To reduce reoffending we need more attention paid to what happens when offenders leave prison. In particular, they should be given every encourage-ment to engage in training to help them integrate into society.” Nearly half the prison population have a reading ability “below that of an 11-year- old” according to the Prison Reform Trust. The Shannon Trust, which helps prison-ers to learn to read, say “the social and economic impact upon our society of prisoners being unable to read is huge...but avoidable.” Without basic literacy skills, people

The burden on the tax payer is enor-mous. It costs £31,612 annually to send a boy to a top school like Eton College. It costs two thousand pounds more to keep a woman in an open prison, at £33, 207 per year. Top-security accommodation in pris-ons is priced at around £54,000 per person. Ironically, despite costing more than a posh education, prison fails to help stop prisoners re-offending. Steve Rawlins, a government adviser on prisons, says that 60 per cent of adult offenders and nearly 80 per cent of young offenders re-offend within two years of release. Steve works with Pecan, a Christian organisation which works with ex-offenders and their families to see their lives changed. Speaking to Je-sus Life, Steve said that “rather than invest-ing in work that will reduce re-offending,

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imprisoned; as He says – “I was in prison

and you came to visit Me” (or didn’t – see Matthew 25:34-45) Jonathan Aitken is the only former cabinet member of the British government to have served time in prison. He spoke to Jesus Life of his experience – and of his views of Christians and prison work: “The call for Christians to visit people in prison is unquestionable – but it’s disappointing that people don’t respond to that call.” Jonathan is a director of Caring For Ex-Offenders (CFEO) an organisation which puts prisoners in touch with support agen-cies which can help them to lead a new life. “We contacted 7,500 churches around the country and found that 90 per cent of them did not respond to say they wanted any involvement with prison work,” said Jonathan. “Pre- and post-release mentoring is important, as well as simple care and befriending. If friends who offer a good influence do not meet the prisoner “at the gate” on his release, well, guess who will? The neighbourhood drug dealer.” Mandy Ogunmokun passionately feels that Christians need to get involved at the sharp end of prison work because “lives are at stake”. When she got out, a friend helped her get into a Christian-run rehab: “I learnt to cook, how to take care of myself. It was like being adopted as a child and showed how to live. That’s what people need, a halfway house and the help

cannot readily progress into honest work. That’s why the Coventry Jesus Centre has begun a service called Your Learning, de-signed to deliver effective basic skills train-ing to people including ex-offenders. Give them the right skills and many will take the chance to exit what Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, calls “the revolving door of crime”. Without this kind of opportunity, it will be back to prison as usual. The harsh truth is that a large underclass of people exists in our society for whom going to prison is a routine event – and ways of escape from that way of life are limited although, given a chance, many would change. This status quo should disturb Christians, especially since Jesus makes it clear that He identifies fully with the

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of Christian friends who are prepared to get involved in their mess.” Otherwise, Mandy feels, prison work can be little more than a badge for Christians to wear, something that makes them look good – but involves little real connection with prisoners and their struggles. People need to pay the price of getting stuck in, she says, especially when prisoners leave prison.

Paul Veitch, Prison Ministry Co-ordinator for the Jesus Fellowship, says, “Our church has been involved with both prisoners and ex-prisoners for many years. We seek to work in partnership with prison chaplains and probation services, realising the need for churches to support prisoners upon their release, especially those who have found faith whilst in prison.” The Reverend Jeff Bird, chaplain at HMP Stafford, says that he has “valued the work of the Jesus Army. Many prisoners on release need a disciplined, supportive envi-ronment to avoid the chaos of their former lives and to have real hope for the future. Here I feel the Jesus Army has a significant contribution to make.” The challenge is clear enough for our church – and for other Christians who take Jesus’ words to heart. As Matthew 25 makes clear, the Lord Jesus Christ identifies fully with those in prison. Will we take His words to heart and visit Him? Will we meet Him when He gets out? Will we be there for Him in the tough times? The UK now needs a gospel people to rise up who can bring real freedom to prisoners. JL

If friends who offer a good influence do not meet the prisoner “at the gate” on his release, well, guess who will? The neighbourhood drug dealer.

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BLOGClichés aside...

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From the blog of Jesus Life editor, James Stacey

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SOME OF our church lead-ers met together for a meal

and a catch-up; a chance to chat about how we felt things were going. As we talked, it became clear that a number of us were finding life uphill. The atmos-phere steadily became gloomy. Picking fish bones out of my mouth, listening to shared woes, heaviness settled upon me; it was going to be one of “those” evenings. But then one guy changed everything. Very simply, but very genuinely, he told us all how much he loves being in our church and community.

READ JAMES’ BLOG: man-with-the-mop.blogspot.com

bursting unexpectedly into a monotonous dirge of double basses. Or so it felt to me. Soon after he had spoken, we all prayed together. What had been a rather cheerless gathering had become a join-ing of hearts and a mutual strengthening. I blessed my brother from my heart. It’s true – love changes everything. It really does.

And he loves the way that God changes people when they get involved with our church. And he loves us. He was deliberately changing the tone, but it wasn’t forced, it wasn’t fake. He just chose to express his love. I know this guy. I know, in fact, that there are some things in his life that are painful, that mean he carries sadness within him. But last night, bravely and beautifully, he expressed his love. People melted. They remembered what it was all for. If you’ll permit me to poeticise, his words were like a sudden flute melody

JL

22 17/09/2010 12:41:31

23-26

WAKING UP in a hospital bed after an almost fatal overdose of heroin

should have been a wake-up call for Sophie. But it wasn’t enough – only through the power of prayer was she able to finally break free. Life wasn’t always so dramatic for Sophie. She grew up in rural Somerset, before moving to Oxford, and, in her own words, “had everything” she wanted. Her father was “always a manager of some kind, usually to do with cars”, which meant holidays and private schools for Sophie and her two brothers. She enjoyed school when she was younger, but describes herself “as a bit of a loner” in secondary school. After finishing her GCSEs and excel-ling in art, photography and textiles, Sophie, who was 17 at the time, went on

Kicking the habitSophie Barrett, 32, escaped from a web of addiction with help from God – and from heavy metal singer, Ozzy Osbourne!

Continued overleaf

ss

23Jesus Lifewww.newcreation.org.uk

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Kicking the habitKicking the habit

23-26

to study at the London School of Fashion. It should have been an adventure, but she found herself often drawn back to Oxford to see her new boyfriend. “I think if I hadn’t met him, I would’ve loved living in London,” says Sophie, “but he was my first boyfriend and I just wanted to spend all my time with him.” Her interest in her studies slipped away and by the end of her first year, she was asked to leave – to the disappoint-ment of her parents. “I became more and more involved with him and his friends,” recalls Sophie. “So when I realised they were smok-ing heroin, I started to as well. I was accepted by them and it felt great to be part of something.”

Growing up in a sheltered, comfort-able home like Sophie’s made her excited by her boyfriend’s rougher lifestyle on the edges of crime. Before too long, smoking wasn’t enough to satisfy her addiction: she started injecting heroin. From then on, Sophie’s life started to unravel quickly. Her growing need for her-oin led her to start stealing. She was fired from countless jobs after getting caught. “It was the last straw for my parents when they found out I’d been stealing from them,” says Sophie, “They told me to leave, so I moved in with my boyfriend. They couldn’t believe it – I think they just didn’t know how to deal with it.” It was in her boyfriend’s flat that Sophie experienced her brush with death. She’d locked herself in the bathroom when she’d wanted “a fix”. The door had to be broken down and Sophie was rushed to hospital. The next thing she knew she was looking into the worried eyes of her father, from a hospital bed. According to a doctor, she died for three seconds. “What happened did shock me,” ad-mits Sophie, “But my need for heroin was stronger. I still couldn’t pull myself away.” Years down the line, by this time a single mother with two young children, Sophie had reached a point of despera-tion. She knew she needed to give up heroin but she had tried and failed many times. Then – stranger than fiction – Ozzy Osbourne came to her rescue.

I prayed, still not really sure who God was or if I believed in him, but after that, things started to change.


ss

She’d locked herself in the bathroom when she’d wanted “a fix”. The door had to be broken down.

Jesus Life www.newcreation.org.uk24

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23-2

Then – stranger than fiction – Ozzy Osbourne came to her rescue... Sophie was watching TV; something the singer said struck her. He was explain-ing how, after years of alcohol addiction, he had prayed that he would wake up in the morning and be free of it. “I decided to try it. So I prayed, still not really sure who God was or if I believed in him,” says Sophie, “but after that, things started to change.” Not long after Sophie cried out to God, she got moved to a different area of Oxford. For her, it was a new start, a clean break, a chance to pull away from the group of people and the drugs that had defined her life for so many years. Soon after, Sophie met Becky at a mums and toddlers group. They found they had a lot in common. “I could really Continued overleaf

ss

relate to her,” recalls Sophie. Becky was a Christian; when it came up in conversation, Sophie was inter-ested. So Becky took her along to Living Faith, one of the Jesus Fellowship’s Christian community houses in Oxford. The people there were “so loving and accepting” that Sophie found they helped her reach the strength she needed to fully come off heroin. “It was like a door had been closed, and I knew there was no way I would ever go back,” says Sophie. “Without God, and without friends like Becky, I could never have done it.” Meeting the Jesus Fellowship stirred up the faith that had been growing in

25Jesus Lifewww.newcreation.org.uk

6.indd 25 17/09/2010 12:43:27


23-26

Sophie’s heart for a while, and six months after meeting Becky and her husband, Michael, she decided to get baptised. “It all made sense really,” says Sophie “For some people it takes a while to get to that point, but not for me. I knew what God had brought me out of and that made everything clear.” At her baptism, Sophie felt the reality of being baptised into a family and saw it as her chance to leave the past behind her for good. Once she’d taken that step, Sophie went from strength to strength. “This is where I’m supposed to be” she realised. After staying there most weekends, So-phie eventually moved into Living Faith. “I can call it home now,” she reflects, “There’ve been ups and downs, of course, but now, I could never imagine living on my own. I love it.” Four years on, and Sophie works as part of a team in the house to cook, clean, and “make the house a home”. Her children have many friends and positive role models and Sophie enjoys expressing God’s life through poems, songs and art. “I wanted to be accepted and loved,” says Sophie, “and I went about it in the wrong way, which just landed me in pain. God’s changed that. There’s been

a lot of healing, and I’m sure there’s more to come”. “I’m learning to accept myself, and the fact that God loves me. That’s what I want to show the young people in Oxford, and my kids; that God loves them and accepts them.” JL

READ MORE: Find other people’s stories of how Jesus changed their life: jesus.org.uk/jcml


ss

Sophie felt the reality of being baptised into a family and saw it as her chance to leave the past behind her for good

Jesus Life www.newcreation.org.uk26

.indd 26 17/09/2010 12:43:34

www.jesus.org.uk

CORNERPoets’

IN A recent Jesus Centre Open Day poetry competition, the challenge was

to write a poem on the theme of “the poor”. This was the winning poem.

27.indd 27

Poor oldPoor littlePoor dear thingPoor showPoor mePoorly feeling

Rich cakeRich stewRich an’ famousRags to richesThat’s rich, that isKeep up with the Joneses

Blind richStinking richSinking while they sing onBlessed poorSimple poorTheirs is the kingdom

The Poor

FOR MORE ON JESUS CENTRES: jesuscentre.org.uk Also see pages 8-10

JL

27Jesus Life

06/09/2010 15:23:02

28-29

Trevor Saxby on a striking example of

radical faithfulness from the history of the Moravian Church.

IN 1737, the Moravian Church sent a team to start

a mission and community settlement in South Africa. They chose some land east of Cape Town and called it Genadendal (Grace Valley). The local tribe, the Khoi, were impoverished and dispersed but the Moravians reached out to them and began a school for their children. One of the first Khoi to be baptised was a woman called Tikhuie, whom the missionaries named Magdalena. Her husband, a skilled hunter, kept the com-munity supplied with meat. Some of the missionaries

died of disease, however, and the leader grew lonely and, in 1744, was recalled to Ger-many. Everyone thought the community was finished. But it wasn’t. In stepped ‘Lena’ Tikhuie! Having learnt to read at the mission school, she gathered the people daily under a tree and taught them the scriptures. Years passed. Travellers returning to Europe brought tales of an African woman leading a church at Grace Val-ley. Finally, in 1792, nearly 50 years after the withdrawal, the Moravians sent a fresh team to re-found Genadendal. On

she gathered the people daily under a tree and taught them the scriptures

Church under a tree


READ TREVOR’S BLOG on the Christian Church’s passionate past: radical-church-history.blogspot.com OR VISIT: jesus.org.uk/short/passionate-past


.indd 28 17/09/2010 12:44:20

www.jesuswww.jesus

28-29.indd 29

Testament.” As families grew, parents taught their children to pray. When Lena couldn’t read, a younger woman did it for her. Lena became a living legend in the area. People came to see her. One, the wife of a high official in the British government, wrote: “It was like creeping back seventeen hundred years to hear from the coarse but inspired lips of evangelists the simple, sacred words of wisdom and purity.” Lena never knew when she was born, but she lived a long life, always thanking God for His great grace. When she died in 1800, her faithful persever-ance had become legendary throughout South Africa. She was one of the first indigenous church leaders in South Africa, certainly the first woman, and she had led the congregation at Genadendal for 50 years.

their arrival, they found the ruins of the original houses, but to their astonishment there was Lena Tikhuie, frail and almost blind, still holding the ground and ministering to the little congregation, daily, under the tree. Her well-worn bible was still with her, wrapped in sheepskin. The missionaries were told, “Every evening we all, men, women and children, would go to old Lena. She would fall on her knees and pray. When her eyes would let her, she read from the New

JL

29Jesus Life.org.uk 29Jesus Life.org.uk

17/09/2010 12:44:24

k

RantRanting RaveRANT & RAVE

Boiling with rage and bubbling with excitement

3

Jesus Life www.jesus.org.u30

A YOUNG girl, from a few

doors down, popped by

the other day. It was good to

see her; but something she

said stopped me in my tracks.

ME: Oh hey, how are you?

Haven’t seen you in a while.

GIRL: I’m good thanks,

been busy studying. I’ve just

come from the Carnival.

ME: Acton Carnival? Cool,

how was it? GIRL: Yeah, it was fun! A

boy got stabbed though... Anyway, I’m really

bored, shall we go

to the park? I couldn’t quite believe how casually

it slipped into the conversation. Acton

Carnival is a yearly

summer celebration

that finishes in Acton

Park, about ten minutes walk

away from our house. You’d

think that an event like that,

especially with all the kids

that take part, would be pretty

safe. Apparently not.

This girl is not heartless or mean; it’s not that she didn’t care that this boy could have died, right in front of her. It’s just that somewhere along the line, teenagers trying to kill each other has become normal. Everyday. Inevitable. Part of her life. It saddens me to think that there are so many young people where I live, who are so angry or bored that knife culture seems the only way out. Or whose backgrounds are messed up, so being part of a gang is all that makes them feel like they belong. I feel like shouting, “There’s so much more to life! What a waste!” God can reach past their hurt and anger and can bring them into his true family: the Church. A cause to fight for. Loyalty, trust, love. I want to see it happen in our neighbourhood so much.

“Stab rant”&Amy Williams

Jesus Life30 www.jesus.org.uk

0-31.indd 30 17/09/2010 13:50:23

Rant Rave& aving

RANT & RAVE

30-31

WE’D KNOWN Trish for

years: addicted, gaunt,

never smiled. She came to

the Jesus Centre for basics,

(she could be stroppy, too).

But gradually she started

thawing a bit. Then with

support workers’ help, she

got into a flat through the

Jesus Centre’s bond scheme.

Gradually she got herself off

drugs, off the beat, and into

a study course. She makes

beautiful cards to sell and

looks much healthier. The

best thing is her smile.

Clare is another girl that

we have known for perhaps

15 years. A desperate crack

and heroin addict she was

always scurrying along the

streets and getting food from

us for the “munchies”. Last

R

year she ended up in hospital and at death’s door. She prayed and recovered. Recently she came by the Jesus Centre and told us about her experience; she said she had never thanked God for saving her life. So we prayed with her and she said her thanks. Since then her life changed dramatically – she got a nice tidy flat and looked better than we had ever seen. What you might call “You-turns”. Thank God.

“Changed lives”

JL

READ AND COMENT ON MORE RANTS AND RAVES: jesus.org.uk/short/rantrave

...she looks much healthier... The best thing is her smile

Piers Young

31Jesus Lifewww.jesus.org.ukwww.jesus.org.uk

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32-34.in

Jesus Life peeks into the diaries of Lizzie Kroon and Perry Hudson

who were at the Jesus Fellowship’s annual youth event. Their experiences were very different - but both saw God at work.

RAW – REA

Jesus Life32 Jesus Life32

The atmosphere in the event tonight was incredible

dd 32

THURSDAYAFTERNOON LIZZIE: “I’ve been here since Tuesday, catering. It has been a lot of fun, but I’m physically drained; today was the busiest yet.”

EVENING PERRY: “The atmosphere in the event tonight was incredible. It’s great to be able to give yourself to God and simply worship.”

LIZZIE: “We were asked in this evening’s event for those who felt they were leaders in our generation to raise their hands. My friend prodded me, so I stuck my hand up – but it felt like a struggle. People see me as that, but I just don’t feel like I am at all, and I don’t want it. I cried a bit, but something shifted inside.”

NIGHT PERRY: “My mate and I had to leave halfway through the event to take a turn stewarding the guys’ camp. Although we were a couple of miles away from Cofton Park, we could still hear and sing to most of the songs.”

LIZZIE: “I’m really cold in this here ‘tent-with-a-broken-zip’, so goodnight!”

L AND WILD

www.jesus.org.ukwww.jesus.org.uk

17/09/2010 13:55:28

www

raw

www

All pictures are from this years’ RAW event

32-34.indd

FRIDAYMORNING LIZZIE: “Bleary eyes and spilt drinks at breakfast this morning. I didn’t sleep last night so I’m fighting a foul mood today.”

PERRY: “One of the ice breakers was hilarious; we had to burst three balloons by hugging someone.”

AFTERNOON PERRY: “We went to a park (which we called ‘Pigeon Park’) in Birmingham city. I spent the majority of the time stringing up red crosses (totally under-estimated how many we would need) – by the end of it most of the people in the park were wearing red crosses!”

EVENING LIZZIE: “I don’t want to write much ’cos I’ve sadly succumbed to that bad mood. Feeling pitiful and just finished cleaning dog poop off my boots. Real nice.”

PERRY: “All of us lads from Norwich prayed for Dan, a mate of ours. It was powerful; I couldn’t stop shaking. That night Dan experienced God in a major way and said, ‘I didn’t consider myself to be a Christian before, but now I do’. This easily was the highlight of the day for me.”

.jesus.org.uk.jesus.org.uk

33

NIGHT LIZZIE: “Good things are happening. A friend gave her life to God this evening and spoke in tongues! Another was worshipping – completely out of character. Even though I felt rubbish, it was beautiful to look around and see what others were experiencing.”

Continued overleaf

ss

RAW (Real and Wild) is the Jesus Fellowship’s annual three-day youth event.

RAW is aimed at those aged 15-35.

For the past three years, RAW was held at the Northampton Jesus Centre.

This year, for the first time, RAW took place in a giant marquee on Cofton Park in Birmingham.

RAW mornings included challenging workshops on living as a Christian in the 21st century.

RAW afternoons took the message of Jesus to the streets and parks around Birmingham.

RAW evenings saw high-energy gospel and worship events at the RAW marquee.

33Jesus Life 33Jesus Life

17/09/2010 13:55:51

READ MORE: For more info on RAW check out: realandwild.com

veryone is inging and raying and ancing. here’s no arriers olding people ack, they just o for it!

32-34

SATURDAYMORNING LIZZIE: “I was in a welcoming team in the morning. I haven’t done that before, and really enjoyed it.”

PERRY: “I went to a workshop called ‘Intent on Brotherhood’. We made a giant rugby scrum and spoke out fears we were going to break whilst diving into people’s arms!”

AFTERNOON LIZZIE: “I went with a friend to visit some girls – our guys were doing voluntary gardening for them nearby. We chatted for hours with them. It was great to connect like that.”

EVENING PERRY: “Everyone is singing and praying and dancing. There’s no barriers holding people back, they just go for it!”

NIGHT PERRY: “The night finished with an overwhelming atmosphere: all I wanted to do after it was get back to Norwich and get stuck in with living it all out.”

LIZZIE: “So, I’ve got a box to unpack. Not physically, but a discovery: who God is; who I am. RAW wasn’t ‘nice’ for me, but it was real – and that’s best.”


ss

JL

EspdTbhbg


.indd 34 17/09/2010 13:56:33

35Jesus Life

Multiply churches and groups meet all over the UK. Get in touch with your locals and find out what’s going

KEEP IN TOUCH!

35

www.jesus.org.uk

BELFAST Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 123 5552BirminghAm Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8153BLACKBUrn Hyndburn Christian Fellowship ............ 0170 622 2401BLACKBUrn Rishton Christian Fellowship ...............0125 488 7790BridgEnd The Bridge Community Church ...........0165 665 5635BrighTon Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8151BriSToL Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 123 5339ChAThAm House Of Prayer For All Nations ..........0163 466 9933 King’s Church Medway .......................... 0163 484 7477

JegLh

London n Glad Tidings Evangelical Church .........0208 245 9002

London S Bible Life Family Ministries ..................0208 689 2244

London SE Ephratah Int’l Gospel Praise Centre ...0208 469 0047

London SE Flaming Evangelical Ministries ...........0163 420 1170

London SE Glorious Revival Eagle Ministries ........0208 855 3087

London SE Life For The World Christian Centre ...0163 431 1507

London SE Mission Together for Christ ..................0207 401 2687

mAnChESTEr Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8169

miLTon KEynES Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8159

JSJWJe

.indd 35

on in your area!

CovEnTry sus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8154

LoUCESTEr

iving Word Fellowship .........................0145 253 2138

ASTingS Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 123 5551

high WyComBE

Church of Shalom ..................................0149 444 9408

KETTEring

Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8157

LEEdS Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8167

LEiCESTEr Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 644 9705

LivErpooL


London CEnTrAL


norThAmpTon Jesus Fellowship Church ......................0845 166 8161norWiCh Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8162noTTinghAm Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8163oxFord Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8164rAmSEy hoLLoW (hUnTS) Christians United ....................................0148 781 5528ShEFFiELd Jesus Fellowship Church .......................0845 166 8183SToKE-on-TrEnT esus Fellowship Church .......................0845 123 5334WAnSEA esus Fellowship Church .......................0845 123 5556orCESTEr sus Fellowship Church .......................0845 833 5601

08/09/2010 17:01:48

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CHECK US OUT ONLINE

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Jesus Life www.jesus.org.uk36MORE INFO? jesus.org.uk/dates Tel: 0845 123 5550 Email: [email protected]

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