SimplifyChristmas

p18ideauniting to change society november/december 2009

Addressing theinjustice of

climate change

Over recent years, climate change has become anincreasingly urgent issue. As we approach thisDecember's vital Copenhagen Climate Change

Conference, our hopes and prayers are centring ongovernments finally taking positive steps toward turning things around.

In my day job as a film critic, I have been overwhelmed by gloomydocumentaries in the past year or so about how the planet is sufferingfrom environmental chaos (The Age of Stupid), hunger (Garapa),corporate greed (Capitalism: A Love Story), government corruption(The End of America), fiscal irresponsibility (I.O.U.S.A.), declining fishpopulations (The End of the Line), beehive demise (Vanishing of the Bees)and rampant injustice in Iraq, Sudan, Burmaand other places.

It's easy to get outraged about all ofthis – or to stick our heads in the sand –without remembering that these things arealready affecting communities. And this is where Alliance members aremaking a huge difference: helping people prepare now for the changesthat are coming.

This edition of idea looks at how climate change is a justice issue(p4, p14 and p29). Not only are Christians mobilising prayer and action,but they are reaching out right now all over the world.

In addition to being aware of these issues and supporting ministries,the Alliance's Simplify initiative has shown us how we can change our ownhearts and help others at the same time. See p18 for specific ideas abouthow to simplify Christmas this year. There are also Christmas-themedarticles on Advent (p21) and the nativity story in pop culture (p22).

Frankly, with the current economic situation, we can't afford to wastemoney on useless presents this year. And there are people who need helpa lot more urgently than we need a newtelevision.

Parliament p5

Media Matters p10

Events p11

First Person p13

Your voice p28

Essay: Sir John Houghton p29

Last word: Steve Clifford p30

Profile of a King 21

30

21

Talking aboutthe nativity p22

Film clips p25

The Basics: diversity p26

culture

22

3

Editor’s note

It’s easy tostick our heads

in the sand

ideaEditor Rich Cline (idea@eauk.org)Contributing Editor Hazel SouthamHead of Communications Miles GiljamAdvertising ManagerJack Merrifield (j.merrifield@eauk.org)Design DomainPrinter Halcyon Print & Design

idea magazine is published bimonthly and sent freeof charge to members of the Evangelical Alliance.Formed in 1846, the Alliance is the largest bodyserving evangelical Christians in the UK, and has amembership including denominations, churches,organisations and individuals. The Alliance’s mission isto unite evangelicals to present Christ credibly asgood news for spiritual and social transformation.There are around 2 million evangelical Christians inthe UK, according to a 2007 Tearfund survey.idea is published in accordance with the Alliance’sBasis of Faith, although it is impossible in every articleto articulate each detail and nuance of belief held byAlliance members. Articles in idea may thereforeexpress views on which there is a divergence ofopinion or understanding among evangelicals.Story ideas from members are welcome, and willbe considered by the editorial board. Unsolicitedmaterial will not be returned unless a stamped,self-addressed envelope has been provided.Articles may be reproduced only with permissionfrom the editor.idea accepts advertisements and inserts to offsetprinting costs. Advertising in idea does not implyeditorial endorsement. The Alliance reserves the rightto accept or refuse advertisements at its discretion.

Head Office186 Kennington Park Road,London SE11 4BTtel 020 7207 2100 fax 020 7207 2150info@eauk.org • www.eauk.org

General Director Steve CliffordPublic Policy Executive Director Dr R David MuirFinance & Operations Executive DirectorHelen CalderChurches in Mission Executive DirectorKrish KandiahConference room bookings Maggie Jonestel: 020 7207 2100 • conference@eauk.org

Evangelical Alliance Northern IrelandNational Director Rev Stephen Cave440 Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 9RUtel: 028 9029 2266 • nireland@eauk.org

Evangelical Alliance ScotlandNational Director Rev Fred Drummond29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0ADtel 0141 332 8700 • scotland@eauk.org

Evangelical Alliance WalesNational Director Rev Elfed Godding20 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PTtel: 029 2022 9822 • wales@eauk.org

Email address changes to members@eauk.org

Registered Charity No.212325

14Confronting climatechange p14

cover story

voice

idea november/december 2009 contents

news

8

how-to

advent prayer

SimplifyChristmas p18

18

news idea november/december 20094

Leaders tackleclimate change

Christians around the world will bepraying for 12 days during Decemberas the world’s leaders descend on

Copenhagen, aiming to agree to a deal ontackling climate change. If an agreementis made, it will replace the Kyoto Treaty,which has struggled to gain globalmomentum. The US, under George WBush, didn’t sign up, which seemed togive many other nation the excuse towait and see.

Climate change has been on theagenda of every G8 Summit in theintervening years, as politicians haveinched towards progress. The Copenhagenconference, scientists say, is the LastChance Corral. If world leaders don’t signan agreement in December, the world riskstipping into a climate where temperaturesare raised by more than 2 degrees. At thatpoint, weather, food and water supplybecome uncertain.

This September, Environment SecretaryHilary Benn warned that Britain needs toplan now for a future that will be bothhotter and wetter, bringing intemperateextremes of flood and drought. Launchingthe UK Climate Projections 2009 report,Benn said that by 2080 London will bebetween 2C and 6C hotter than it is now.Every part of Britain is likely to be wetterin winter and drier in summer, accordingto the predictions.

“Climate change is going to transformthe way we live,” said Benn. “Theseprojections show us the future we need toavoid and the future we need to plan for.”

In the same month, the World Bankreported that climate change will be aserious barrier to growth in poor nationsand must be addressed. It called ongovernments to reach “an equitable deal”at Copenhagen, pointing out that a failureto do so would hit poor nations hardest.

Aid and development agencies agree.Alliance member Tearfund has beenlobbying world leaders on this subject formore than a decade. Its climate changespokesperson, Sara Shaw, said, “Climatechange will affect all of us, but it’s hittingpoor people now. It’s in our interests to actnow and help poor countries.”

Urgent action neededMany scientists are also calling onpoliticians to act. In March, more than

2,500 researchersand economistsattended ameeting inCopenhagen,where researchshowed howmelting glacierscould lead to sealevels rising bymore than ametre, leading tomillions of people being made homeless.If the world’s temperature rose by3 degrees, they heard, the Amazonrainforest could lose 75 per cent ofits trees.

Lord Stern, whose report on climatechange was published in 2006, addressedthe meeting. A 5-degree temperature risewould have dramatic results for millionsof people, he said, including massmigration sparking conflict. “You’d seehundreds of millions of people, probablybillions of people, who would have tomove,” he said. “So we would see a veryextended period of conflict around theworld, decades or centuries as hundredsof millions of people move.”

But there is some good news. The G8countries agreed this summer, for the firsttime, that action must be taken to preventa 2-degree temperature rise. In September,

Japan set a goal tocut greenhouse gasemissions by 25 percent by 2020. Thiswon praise fromthe UN, which isrecommending thatdeveloped countriescommit to a 25-40per cent cut.

And followingPresident Obama’s

positive statements about the need totackle global warming, analysts are morehopeful that America will finally come onboard. Meanwhile, major developingnations such as India and China havetaken a leading role by promising tosignificantly reduce emissions.

Even so, the buzz pre-Copenhagen isof stalled negotiations, less achievementand extended talks into 2010. In otherwords, the spin-doctors are trying tomanage expectations for failure. Lobbyistshave described their mood “apprehensive”and “daunted”, but they’re still pushing fora deal.

As Tearfund’s Sara Shaw said, “Wecan’t just negotiate endlessly. It’s toourgent. It’s too pressing. And we need anagreement urgently.” Prayer and actionfrom Christians around the world areneeded to make sure this happens. HS

DavidPonton

Climate change isgoing to transformthe way we live

‘ ‘IISD

5idea november/december 2009 news

GAMBLING. The prize limits on the mosteasily available fruit machines were doubledearlier this year. This was despite complaintsfrom the Alliance and other Christiangroups that the Government was beingcavalier with gambling regulations andincreasing the risk to the vulnerable just to

help arcades struggling in the recession.Following these changes, the

Government is now reviewing the availabilityand prizes for fruit machines that carry largejackpots and can only be played in over-18venues. The potential to win large amountsof money means that these machines are

highly addictive and contribute to problemgambling. One type of machine allows theuser to play casino style games that workon fixed odds; these are only available inbetting shops and are particularlyaccessible to under-age gamblers.

The Alliance is already working withthe Government on their plans to reviewthese regulations. In the current economicclimate, betting shops insist that they musthave high-prize fruit machines in theirvenues, which is not surprising as researchhas suggested that these machines add£500 million a year to their revenue.

The Alliance will continue to press theGovernment to ensure that any changes tothe availability of these machines lessenthe risk of problem gambling.

ASSISTED SUICIDE. The Director of PublicProsecutions (DPP) has recently issueddraft guidance seeking to clarify the lawsurrounding assisted suicide in response tohigh-profile cases involving travelling toforeign clinics with terminally ill patients,including the successful legal campaignof Debbie Purdy. The House of Lordsallowed Purdy's appeal and required theDPP to prepare an offence-specific policyidentifying the facts and circumstancesthat he will take into account on deciding,in cases such as Purdy's, whether or not toprosecute.

The draft guidelines emphasise thatassisting suicide will remain illegal,reaffirming that regardless of thecircumstances anyone who provides suchassistance will be liable to prosecution.It is also encouraging that there isrecognition of the potential for externalcoercion and the particular dangers inrelation to mentally ill patients as well asthe need to discourage any promotion ofassisting suicide through the internet.

But significant flaws can also be foundin the guidance. It is suggested that, incases where the deceased was terminally illor suffering from a severe degenerativecondition with no possibility of recovery,a prosecution would be far less likely.This is a broad categorisation that alsoincludes illnesses such as chronic heartdisease, so it undermines the value of manypeople’s lives. It would seem to suggest thatthose who are seriously ill or disabled areless deserving of the law’s protection. TheAlliance will be responding to the proposalsin the coming weeks in conjunction withthe Care Not Killing Alliance.eauk.org/pq Daniel Webster

Ahead of next year's General Election, theJubilee Centre has published Votewise Now!This follows on from Nick Spencer’sVotewise, which was produced prior to the2005 election and provided an invaluableguide for Christians looking at the keyissues at stake at the ballot box. The bookprovides a response to the electoral processand also provokes the Church to takeseriously its ongoing engagement in thedemocratic process.

Updated and completely revisedVotewise Now!, edited by Rose Lynas,includes essays on various policy areaswritten by experts in each field. As theelection approaches, this book provides a

valuable tool to help get informed about awide variety of policy areas. Each chapter hasa biblical grounding for the issue in questionand looks in turn at the different parties’responses, giving Christians a starting pointthrough which to examine the issue.

The book concludes with three piecesfrom an MP of each of the major parties,setting out why it might be appropriate forChristians to cast their vote for them. Noneof the parties claim to have a monopoly onthe Christian vote, and this book providesthe opportunity to consider the criticalissues and to hear, from a Christianperspective, what the parties have to say.jubilee-centre.org

Preparing to vote

International Aids workersvisit UK churchesIn the run-up to World Aids Day on1 December, international leadersfrom ACET (Aids Care Education andTraining) are coming to the UK to visitsupporters and encourage churches totackle the pressing problem of HIV/Aidsthroughout the world.

Marek Slansky leads the work ofACET in Russia and is regional leaderof the charity’s work in Eastern Europeand Central Asia, while Paul Kabunga’swork in Uganda is part of the oldestinternational ACET programme,established in 1990. Both workextensively with Church leaders andvolunteers, encouraging them to takethe lead in their communities in offeringcare, education and training in thebattle against HIV/Aids.

ACET Chief Executive Peter Fabiansaid, “The work that Paul and Marekdo, and indeed the work of ACET teamsthroughout the world, should rightlychallenge Christians in the UK as wesee what is possible when the Churchtakes the lead in the fight against HIVand Aids.

“I have been privileged to see thesemen in action, mobilising local churchesto be involved in this work, and I knowthat their story is a challenging butencouraging one.

“ACET UK is committed tosupport their work in whatever waywe can, and we hope their visit willchallenge UK churches to join thefight against HIV and Aids, becausetoo often, congregations are unawareof this global human tragedy.”acet-international.org

One year after the latest outbreak ofreligious violence against Christians inOrissa, India, many Christian refugees(such as those pictured) are still living intemporary camps and slums, unable toreturn to their homes. Meanwhile,Karnataka and several other states reportgrowing communal violence.

Alliance member Release Internationalis calling for prayer that the forgottenChristians of Orissa will be able to returnand live in safety a year after Hindumilitants attacked and drove out morethan 50,000 from their homes.

“The violence had been carefullyplanned,” said Release CEO Andy Dipper.“Hindus in the village put saffron flags ontheir houses, so that the rioting mobpassed them by. Trees were cut down andlaid on the road to slow down the police.Then the houses of the Christians werecompletely destroyed, as was their churchbuilding. Hindu militants have now built atemple on the same site.”

The Christians had been giventemporary shelter in a camp for thedisplaced, but that was closed after twomonths. Many have drifted to the slums ofOrissa’s capital rather than risk returninghome where they could be attacked again.

Open Doors and Premier ChristianMedia have launched FaithWithoutFear.org,calling on UK churches to contact India’sPrime Minister Manmohan Singh, urginghim to seek justice for these persecutedChristians.

Although these refugees face anuncertain future, they remain faithful intheir Christian witness. Aparajita (not herreal name) said, “To know and suffer forJesus is valuable. Suffering for Christ isworthwhile. We have a burden that one daythese people will know the Lord, so we mustremain here to share His word with them.”

Release has produced a range ofresources for International Day of Prayerfor the Persecuted Church on 15November. releaseinternational.org

news idea november/december 20096

India’s forgotten Christians

Release

Bath Youth for Christ’s evangelisticdiscipleship course Switch is makinga real impact on young skaters. The courselets young people who skate explorethe Christian faith for themselves. The12-session course has been so successfulthat it is now being launched in America.

Jo Dolby, skate outreach manager atBath YFC, describes how each Sundayduring the course “young people turn up,skate on the ramps, do 45 minutes ofcourse content, and then we all eat a mealtogether which local churches provide.”

Mixing group work, skateboardingand discussion, the course addresses suchquestions as “Why does God let bad things

happen?” and “Why is church boring?”Halfway through the course, the youngpeople go on a weekend away that is basedaround the weeks looking at Jesus’ deathand resurrection. The team has seen youngpeople become Christians, and some haveeven gone on to become junior courseleaders.

Jack, age 12, said, “Switch is amazing,you get to learn more about God and skate.It has really affected my life. I have becomea Christian and learnt more tricks.”

Sam (14) said, “I’ve learned loads aboutChristianity and how to live my life by God.Switch has helped me switch my life.”yfc.co.uk

Skateboarders make the Switch

YFC

she’s just heard...

Inspiring, uplifting, rejoicing, radio. With music, news, debate,prayer, testimony and the best in Christian programming, we’re a station like no other.

Tune in today on DAB Digital Radio across the nation. www.premier.org.uk/dab

news idea november/december 20098

Practical presentsWith three quarters of people in the UKadmitting to wasting £50 on unwantedChristmas presents every year – a total of£2 billion – international development charityPractical Action is appealing to holidayshoppers to buy a gift that could make adifference in someone’s life. The charity’sPractical Presents scheme allows people tochoose unique, clever gifts including fluffyducks for families in Bangladesh to provideeggs and a livelihood through breeding orsmoke hoods in Nepal to reduce smokepollution. Stephen Harvey of Practical Action said, “Two thirds of people have said theywould rather receive one less Christmas gift and have a charitable donation made instead.Buying a Practical Present will mean your friends and family still receive a gift, whileknowing it really is making someone’s life better.” practicalpresents.org.uk

Give this Christmas awayChristian relief and development charitySamaritan’s Purse is encouraging UKchurchgoers to show compassion tovulnerable children overseas this Christmas.The Alliance member agency, which lastyear sent over 1.2 million gift-filledOperation Christmas Child shoeboxes tochildren in the developing world, is alsoencouraging Christians to “give thisChristmas away”.

“Circumstances are worrying for manypeople in this country right now, but itis an awful lot worse for the vulnerablechildren and families we work withoverseas,” said Simon Barrington, executivedirector of Samaritan’s Purse UK. “Manyhave seen their conditions worsen as aresult of the global recession. These arethe very people that we should be showingcompassion to right now.”

In addition to encouragingparticipation in Operation Christmas Child,Samaritan’s Purse is urging families tothink of other ways to “give this Christmasaway”, like sponsoring a child overseas orvolunteering at a nearby homeless shelter.

“Giving even a fraction of our usual

Christmas spend away for the sake ofthose less fortunate than ourselves canmake a real difference,” said Barrington.“Our experience at Samaritan’s Purse isthat there is real power in giving awaywhat we have, even if we feel we don’thave much to give in the first place.”

As part of this initiative, a Give This

Christmas Away Facebook group willencourage people to post ideas for givingChristmas time or money to those lessfortunate. On 18 November, the finalday for collection of gift shoeboxes,Samaritan’s Purse will publish the top10 ways to give Christmas away.samaritans-purse.org.uk

Church Army evangelist Alison Wooding held an hour-long prayervigil on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, in the wee smallhours of Sunday 2 August. During her one-hour slot in sculptorAnthony Gormley’s One & Other installation, Wooding prayed forfellow evangelists, friends and family members while alsopublicising Church Army's Life to the Full campaign and the newinteractive website Make Jesus Famous.

"I am fascinated by the spirituality of the Desert Fathers andpeople who did wild and wacky things for God,” said Wooding.

“In the desert and at the margins of society, the Desert Fathers andMothers sought God – a solitary way of life that has puzzled peopledown the ages.”

After her stint, Wooding described the sensation that onlyminutes had passed, rather than a whole hour. She also stressedthat she was promoting the need for usall to sit still and just “be with God”, and that it was remarkablehow the noise – including occasional heckling – died downhalfway into her prayer time. churcharmy.org.uk

Church

Army

Just ‘being’ on the plinth

Are evangelicals fundamentalists?Observing that the terms “evangelicals” and“fundamentalists” are often misunderstoodin public discourse, in a variety of scholarlydisciplines and by those who consider themselvesknowledgeable about Christianity in general,a group of scholars embarked on a project in 2007to study the relationship between evangelicalismand Christian fundamentalism in Britain.

The project, aided by the Alliance, askswho exactly are evangelicals and Christianfundamentalists? What doctrines have theyupheld? What attitudes have they maintained?Have evangelicals displayed the anger oftenconsidered characteristic of fundamentalists?

A special one-day event, ChristianFundamentalism and British Evangelicalism:Exploring the Relationship, will be held 15December at King’s College Chapel, London, toengage ministers, laypeople and the interestedpublic concerning the question: are evangelicalsfundamentalists?

For information, including booking forms,visit: eauk.org/efb or email Andrew Tooley:efbproject@stir.ac.uk

9idea november/december 2009 news

MESSAGE OF HOPE. Andrew Palau spoke about hope and reconciliation withmore than 2,000 prisoners at Kigali City Central Prison in Rwanda, during a tripthat coincided with the nation's 100-day remembrance of the 1994 genocide.The prisoners, most of whom had been involved in events 15 years ago, duringwhich 1.2 million people were murdered in 100 days of violence, also receivedBibles donated by Prison Fellowship. In addition to joining in service projectswith local churches, Palau also spoke to some 70,000 people at the Kigali Festival.More than 5,000 people made public decisions for Christ. palau.org

Palau

Prolonged drought in Kenya has led to a serious shortage ofwater. In Nairobi, the electricity is off for three days each weekas power stations rely on water to operate. Reports also suggestthat nearly 4 million people are starving in Kenya today. Somuch so that the UN’s World Food Programme is appealing for£145,000 for famine relief as locals wait in long queues forwater (pictured).

Alliance member Mission Aviation Fellowship is providingflights that take emergency food supplies to some of the mostinaccessible, worst-affected areas. Ruth Moores of MAF inKenya said, “The situation in northern Kenya is extremelyserious. The prediction is that there will be good short rainsfrom now to December. But if the short rains don’t come thenI fear that Kenya is heading for a disaster.”

Lack of rain earlier in the year has caused crops to fail.Affected regions usually harvest crops once a year, planting inApril and harvesting in September but this year the rains failedto come. Cattle herders are struggling to keep their herds aliveas, according to the World Food Programme, it is the worstdrought since 2000. maf-uk.org

news idea november/december 200910

Trans World RadioGod’s Word in today’s world

Call 0161 923 0270for a free listening guide1467 kHz MW 9.800 & 6.105 MHz SW

Satellite channel 0138Freesat 790

On the TV:

On-line: www.twr.org.uk

Listen to TWR TODAY in your own home ...

Trans World Radio, PO Box 606, Altrincham, WA14 2YS Telephone: 0161 923 0270 Email: info@twr.org.uk Web: www.twr.org.uk

Trans World Radio in the UK produces and broadcasts a hugevariety of quality Christian radio programmes for teaching,encouragement, entertainment and outreach.

The schedule includes daily Bible studies, family programmes andslots by many well known preachers and evangelists.

You can listen to TWR on digital television, on your radio or on-line.

Tune in today, or call 0161 923 0270 for your free listening guide.

If you listen to your local BBC station on a Sundaymorning, the likelihood is that you will have heardSteve Clifford talking about Simplify.When we told the regional BBC producers that Steve was

going to spend a month living on £5 a day and give themoney he saved to charity, we were inundated with requestsfor interviews and ended up organising 35 BBC interviews forhim in three weeks.

Steve’s story appealed to the producers because it was agood news story. It was topical, because we’re in a recession,and it was personal, because he was happy to talk about hisown experiences. It was also interesting and unusual – whaton earth would make someone do such a thing?

We know there are many of you out there who also havestories to tell that we can promote to the media, or profileon our website. Perhaps you, or someone you know, are alsodoing something unusual or making an impact in yourcommunity.

Maybe you have a first-hand perspective on a topical issue.Personal experience – whether from a mother who decided notto abort her disabled baby, an asylum-seeker helped by thechurch or a street pastor describing his conversations withclubbers – is gold-dust to a journalist and can be a powerfulway of reflecting Jesus in the media.

Or perhaps you can speak with authority, from a Christianviewpoint, on the stories of the day. Teachers, foster carers,health workers and economists are just some of the manypeople whose expertise could provide journalists withinvaluable comment and insight.

So we want to hear from you if you have a story to tell,or if you are interested in training in how to speak to themedia. Drop us an email: yourstories@eauk.org

mediamattersby Charis Gibson,Senior Press Officer

Respondingto Kenya’s drought

GlobalG

iving

SSquaree Milee eexists too ccataalysee aand eeqquip Christians to takkee a trulyinteegraateed aapproaacch to missioon, expreesseed in fouur dimeensions:

– demonstrating God’s compassion to the poor.

– being salt and light in the public life of the community.

– equipping Christians for missional living asworkers & neighbours.

– faithful and relevant communication of the gospel.

Square Mile resources include:

• Four week DVD-based course for small groups – featuring Shane Claiborne, MarkGreene, J John, Tim Keller, Elaine Storkey, Jim Wallis and Tom Wright, as well asgrassroots projects around the UK.

• Daily journal with readings, reflections and activities • Website to equip you for four-dimensional mission: www.eauk.org/squaremile

We are called as followers of Christ to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly; bygetting involved with Square Mile, we can begin to live out that call effectively.–– TTiimm HHuugghheess,, HHTTBB

An excellent resource for the local church and the local community. –– TToomm WWrriigghhtt,, BBiisshhoopp ooff DDuurrhhaamm

Lmi eBUILDING 4D CHURCHES

Would anyonein your communitynotice if yourchurch ceased to exist?

Where great traditions meet real lifeCertificate/Diploma (Theology; Urban Ministry) 1/2 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology: Youth Work & Ministry 3 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology 3 yearsBA (Hons) in Theology & Pastoral Studies 4 yearsMA in Theology 1 year

Christian Holiness streamUrban Mission streamGlobal Mission stream

M Phil/PhD 1-3 years

CONTACT US FOR A PROSPECTUSwww.nazarene.ac.uk

A Partner College of The University of Manchester

Nazarene Theological College Dene Road, Didsbury Manchester M20 2GUTel: 0161 445 3063 Fax: 0161 448 0275 E-mail: enquiries@nazarene.ac.uk

JUST ARRIVED. A group of 33 international Careforce volunteersgather at the London School of Theology for an orientation coursebefore moving to their placements. Since 1994 Careforce haswelcomed international volunteers from over 50 countries to joinwith their British volunteers to spend one or two years engagedin mission alongside Christians in local churches and communityprojects. Commended by their own leaders and pastors, eachinternational volunteer pays for their own visa and flight costs to theUK and then is supported by their placements during their stay here.They come with a love for God that is both refreshing and infectious.Some 70 Christians from around the world are presently serving withthe church in the UK through Careforce. careforce.co.uk

Careforce

Creation Debate8 Nov, Chiswick,LondonThree scientists – Dr DenisAlexander (theisticevolutionist), Prof Andy McIntosh (youngearth creationist) and Prof Lewis Wolpert(atheist) – will go head-to-head todiscuss Charles Darwin’s legacy. The freeevent will be open to audience questions.gunnersburybaptistchurch.org

Apprentice Tour11 Nov-3 Dec, UKSteve Chalke will visit eight UK citieswith special guests, following the launchof his book and DVD Apprentice: Walkingthe Way of Christ, which is designed toexplore what it means to be a 21stcentury follower of Jesus.apprenticethetour.com

Extraordinarily Ordinary13-15 Nov, CoventryRun by Activate Your Life, thisconference features the Alliance’s KrishKandiah as keynote speaker, providing anopportunity for women to boost theirwell-being and learn how to impact theircommunities. activateyourlife.org.uk

Mission and Worship Conference13-15 Nov, EastbourneWith the title In Christ Alone: WorshipFoundations for Today’s Church,Kingsway Trust’s lively conference offerspractical workshops and inspiringseminars on how to bring Christ-centredworship to local congregations.missionworship.com

Mission 21 Conference17-19 Nov, BathA gathering for churchplanters and planners, thisconference will touch on

everything from rural church plantingand youth culture to fresh expressions ofchurch and working with multi-culturalcommunities. mission21.info

From Vision to Action26 Nov, LondonThis conference at Holy Trinity Bromptonaims to pass on organisational andmanagement skills to church leaders. Thematerial will suit leaders of churches ofall sizes and denominations as well astheir teams who want to move ahead inthis area. alphaevent.notlong.com

DigiMission1 Dec, LondonThis one-day conference, organisedby the Alliance, looks at howtechnology shapes faith, church andmission. Shane Hipps, author ofFlickering Pixels: How TechnologyShapes Your Faith, will present aboutthe ideas behind his book via livevideo. eauk.org/slipstream

Climate Service and March5 Dec, WestminsterAn ecumenical service led by theArchbishop of Canterbury will befollowed by The Wave, a fun andpeaceful march alongside theThames sponsored by the StopClimate Chaos Coalition.www.christian-ecology.org.uk

events

12 news idea november/december 2009

A changed outlookKelvin had always struggled at school inGhana’s capital Accra, until he read abook full of stories about people whopersevered when times were equallyhard. The book was the Bible, andthrough reading it Kelvin discovereda living God who was there to helphim. Kelvin is one of thousands ofschoolchildren who have been givenBibles by Bible Society of Ghana, whichwants to see a whole generation ofchildren growing up reading God’s word.

Brian Dacre of Bible Society inSwindon said, “After reading his copyKelvin began asking for God’s help everyday and found that school was easier.It’s an amazing story of how interactionwith God, through the Bible, impactedon one child’s life.”

Bible Society hopes to give a millionBibles to children in Ghana by 2011.The country’s First Lady ErnestinaNaadu Mills recently handed out the500,000th donated Bible.biblesociety.org.uk

A golden decade of sportA network of 25 Christian sport ministrieshave joined the Forum for Change,facilitated by the Alliance, which isco-ordinating a long-term strategy tomobilise the Church in influencing thekey change-drivers in education, politics,media, arts and business. Sport is aprominent sphere of our culture thatcaptures the imagination of many, elicitsintense emotions, generates communityand enjoys huge media coverage.

With the 2012 Olympic Games inLondon, the 2014 Commonwealth Gamesin Glasgow and the possibility of a2018 World Cup in England, the Churchhas a unique opportunity to engageeffectively with Britain's pervasive sportssub-culture.

“A ‘golden decade of sport’ will beginin 2011 with the UK hosting many of theworld’s largest sporting events,” said DaveOakley, chief executive of Ambassadors inSport. “Not since the late 19th century hasthe Church had a better opportunity to bea transformational influence for good,both in sport and in the wider society.”eauk.org/forumforchange

!

978 085234 7065Booklet / £1.10

978 085234 7072Hardback / £9.95

Why on earth? by

ohn lanchar

New

title

sfro

mEP

Book

s

Available from your local Christian bookshop or directly from EP Books at

www.epbooks.org

EPBo

oks

978 085234 7072Hardback / £9.95

25

978 085234 7065Booklet / £1.10

h?Why on eartby

dlancharBohn J

omE

esfr

!

New

title

directly from oailable from yvA

directly from

www.epbooks.orgy from ur local Christian bookshop or

y from EP BooksEP Books at at

.epbooks.org

okshop or

g

BibleSociety

idea november/december 2009 first person 13

idea: Justice is one of our mainresponsibilities (Micah 6.8), so why dowe often act like it's up to someone elseto make a difference?Ruth Valerio: I think part of the problem isthat we live in such a globalised world that,by and large, the impact of the way we livehere is felt thousands of miles away andhence feels separate to our own lives andsociety. We need to find ways of continuallyreminding ourselves of the links between ouractions and the lives of others around theworld and the land that they live on. Forexample, as we go around the supermarketand are faced with a choice of buyingFairtrade bananas or non-Fairtrade bananas,we should train ourselves not to see them asa product in a vacuum, but as somethingthat has been produced by a particularperson in a particular place who is affectedby our decision.

How can we break this cycle?There is no doubt that big problems requirebig solutions and we should be encouraginggovernments and businesses to make thosebig solutions. But this must be backed upby little actions; we've got to show that wewant them to make those big solutions.

Something else I come across quiteoften, is the “they're worse than me”syndrome, as in, “She's the one driving the4x4, not me!” But responding to injusticeis not about pointing the finger at others,it's about looking at ourselves and askingwhat we can do, even if it feels smalland ineffectual. The ultimate question is,“What's the right way to live?”

How can we identify where injustice istaking place?It's really important to get informed.I always encourage people to join reputableorganisations that will increase theirknowledge and understanding and findout as much as they can about what'shappening both in our own country andfurther afield. I think we have to face up tothe fact, though, that we can't tackle everyissue single-handedly. I would advise people

to find one particular issue that really strikesa chord with them – water shortages, peopleimprisoned for their faith, industrial farming,whatever – and invest themselves in that.You can still shoot off emails, sign postcardsor do Tearfund’s Superbadger, but if you tryto do everything all at once you'll end upoverwhelmed.

Why do you think there's so much injusticeout there?This goes back to the Fall in Genesis 3.However, we do seem to find ourselves ina particularly stark period of horrendousinequality and injustice at a global level.As I am speaking, 27,000 children underthe age of 5 will die from poverty-relatedillnesses. When you have an area of theworld like sub-Saharan Africa in which41 per cent of the population are living onless than $1 a day, you know something's

wrong. My personal opinion is that weare reaping the consequences of a globaleconomic system that has been built onthe foundations of the slave trade andcolonialism.

How can we develop God's heart for thepoor and oppressed?Our intellectual understanding of thissituation must be accompanied by a heartunderstanding. I can still remember watchingone of the clips during Comic Relief manyyears back: something broke in me and I satfor the rest of the evening in a puddle oftears. I believe God was starting a process ofbreaking my heart for people – a processthat’s still continuing. The bottom line isthat we can't develop God's heart by ourown effort and willpower, but we can ask

God to move in us, give us compassionand change our hearts so they begin to beatin-line with His.

What are the first small steps we need totake to get involved?Personally, I think all our actions have tostart with confession and repentance:acknowledging the part that we play in theinjustices that are in our country and world,and asking God for His forgiveness. Fromthat position there are many things wecan do. I would urge everyone to find oneorganisation to support financially, becausethat will increase your understanding onparticular issues and give you ideas as towhat you can do to get involved. Two otherthings I would recommend everyone to do,which will impact both people and theplanet, are to make one day a week meat-free and make one meal a week whereeverything is locally and/or home-produced.

Where can we look for help in this?The good news is that it's hard to look intoany area of injustice and not find Christianswho are involved and working in that area.There are so many organisations: Tearfund,Christian Aid, A Rocha, Cafod, Life Centre,the Fairtrade Foundation, Friends of theEarth, WWF, Climate Rush, the WorldDevelopment Movement – the list is endless.

Ruth Valerio is author of L is for Lifestyleand manages A Rocha’s Living Lightly 24:1project. For ideas and information,visit: lisforlifestyle.com andarocha.org.uk/livinglightly

We can't developGod's heart by

our own effort andwillpower

‘ ‘

The right way to liveOn 31 October, Christians will gather in Edinburgh for theAlliance’s Just Generation conference, examining what Christiansof all ages can do to fight against injustice. Rich Cline talked withkeynote speaker Ruth Valerio...

cover story idea november/december 200914

It’s ajustice issueIn the run-up to December’s Copenhagenclimate summit, Hazel Southam examines whatglobal warming means for people around theworld and how Christians can help...

Climate change can no longer be considered the bogeymanin the shadows. Scientists agree that we are already feelingthe effects of global warming, with more to come.

At the G8 Summit this summer, the world’s leaders agreed tocut emissions of harmful greenhouse gases by 20 per cent by2020. It was the benchmark for which development agencies likeTearfund and Christian Aid had campaigned for many years. Yet itfalls short of the 25-40 per cent cuts that many scientists say isneeded.

The aim is to prevent a 2 degree rise in world temperature.This doesn’t sound like much on a chilly British winter day (in fact,it could sound like a positive benefit), but scientists say that a2 degree rise in temperatures could be cataclysmic for theworld, most crucially for the world’s poorest. It would createunpredictable climate change, and we all depend on weather forfood, security and fresh water.

Meanwhile, sea-level rises of 1 metre by 2100 are predicted dueto melting glaciers. This could displace 10 per cent of the world’spopulation – that’s some 600 million people on the move, lookingfor a new home.

And the poorer you are, the worse the impact. In a recentreport, Christian Aid says, “Most of the world’s 2.7 billion poorpeople depend on natural resources (water, forests, seas, soil) forsurvival and economic development, but the environment and theworld’s natural resources are already substantially degraded andincreasingly being affected by changes in the climate.”

But the report was not a hand-wringing exercise. TitledCommunity Answers to Climate Chaos, the report claims that

On the cover: Pastor Philippe Yampa and hiswife Wendenda grow potatoes to supplementtheir diet and income in Titao, Burkina Faso.Photo by Layton Thompson/Tearfund.

idea november/december 2009 cover story 15

change already is being brought about in local communities.“Community action can build the resilience and stability of

countries and their economies in response to ongoing changesin the climate,” the report says. “Through local sustainabledevelopment, working to improve and conserve the naturalenvironment they live in, communities can improve food securityand the livelihoods of millions of vulnerable people.”

Helping communitiesDevelopment agencies are already hard at work helping localcommunities to adapt to the changes that are affecting themtoday and to prepare for the effects that will come in the future.

Some of these initiatives are costly, others are remarkably cheap,but both are more efficient than paying to clean up countries later,experts say.

“Helping people adapt is an issue of justice,” says Tearfund’sSara Shaw. “Poor people didn’t cause climate change, but they arehit the hardest by it. We have a responsibility to help them adapt.”

Arguably, a key place to do this is in Bangladesh, much of

GopoRising temperatures, frequent floods and cyclones

hit Bangladesh’s poor population annually

Poor people didn’t causeclimate change, but theyare hit the hardest by it

‘ ‘

Juana Perez Gomes and Florentina Lemuz collect carnations at Las Hortensiasnursery in Intibucás, Honduras. Local Christian agencies provide workers withpractical, business and personal assistance.

San

CurryCh

rstanAd

cover story idea november/december 200916

which is less than 1 metre above sea level.Rising temperatures, frequent floods andcyclones hit the country’s poor populationannually. And as the sea level begins to rise,the land where people live is literally beingwashed away. Salt water can now be foundup to 100km inland.

Minu Basar knows all about this. Sheoften travels the whole day to find freshwater. “Because of the salt water, we have tosuffer hardship just to survive,” she says. “Wecan’t even wash our own vegetables or fishwith the water. If you wash anything with itand then leave it, you’ll see it go black. Whenwe wash our hair, it becomes sticky andsmelly. Once a month, when we go to collectwater from freshwater sources far away, wetake all our clothes and wash them there.”

Some 40 million people like Minu inBangladesh still lack safe drinking water,but local Christian agencies are helpingpeople to run their own community waterorganisations.

Working with professionals, they bringpeople together to identify the best watersupply methods for the households andwider community. This encourages rainwaterharvesting, doing simple things likecollecting water from tin roofs in jars thatare kept clean with bleach powder andcovered with mesh to stop insects andbacteria getting in.

It’s an inexpensive scheme that’stransforming lives. Rina Begum, is just oneperson whose life is better thanks to thescheme. The 20-year-old mother is part of acommunity water organisation. “Before welearned about the dangers of drinking water,we used to drink water from the pond orthe river and even dirty rainwater that we’dcollected,” she says. “But we didn’t knowhow to do it safely. Now we have very cleanwater. We preserve it safely and collecting ithas become very easy. We even have lesshealth problems now.’

Learning to adaptElsewhere, protecting yourself from theweather – adapting to it – takes differentforms. In Honduras, the problem people faceis an increase in storms that bring floodsand landslides with them.

Climate change is increasing the sizeof storms in the Atlantic, where the annualhurricane season finishes at the end ofNovember. Honduras often feels the brunt ofthis season; the worst was Hurricane Mitch

in 1998, when some 20,000 people died orwere missing. According to Honduras’ thenpresident, the country’s development wasput back 50 years.

So what do you do about ever-biggerhurricanes if you grow flowers for a living?For 58-year-old Florentina, the stormsruined her business. “We made a lovely cover[for our flowers] but the wind tore it down,”she recalls. “We have very strong storms here... terrible winds that destroy everything.”

Through a UK-funded project that costs£65,000 over three years, Florentina’ssituation is changing. The answer to theproblem has proved simple: the roof thatprotects the flowers from sun and heavy rainhas now been reinforced using wire mesh. Itnow holds firm against the storms, and theflowers aren’t lost when hurricanes arrive.

In many countries across the vast Sahelregion in Africa, the so-called hungry seasonis a fixed part of the calendar. It’s the timewhen the food runs out and the harvesthasn’t yet come. And it’s getting worse.

In Africa,the so-called

hungry season isgetting worse

In northwest Burkina Faso,2 year old Phoebe helps thefamily by gathering vegetables.

Layton

Thom

pson/Tearfund

idea november/december 2009 cover story 17

Subsistence farmers are badly affectedby erratic rainfall and rising temperatures.Last year, floods washed away every last seedof Pastor Philippe Yampa’s sorghum crop.Today, Philippe and his wife Wendenda areone of hundreds of families being helped bydevelopment agency Tearfund to learn howto use their allotments more productively.

This simple strategy has helped some of

the poorest farmers in the Sahel ensure thatthey have enough food, even though theirenvironment is unpredictable.

“We need to help others,” says ChristianAid’s Alison Doig. “We have a responsibilityas the causers of climate change to helpother people adapt. It’s our obligation tohelp those feeling the impact of climatechange now.”

The MillenniumDevelopment Goals• To eradicate poverty: specifically tohalve the number of people living onless than $1 a day

• To provide universal primary education• To promote gender equality• To reduce child mortality by two-thirds• To improve maternal health• To combat HIV/Aids and malaria• To ensure environmental sustainabilityand halve the number of peoplewho don’t have access to safedrinking water

• To provide a global partnership fordevelopment

Achieving these goals (MDGs) willbe a key way of combating the effectsof global warming being felt in thedeveloping world. So says Mike Hulme,professor of climate change at theUniversity of East Anglia.

Long-term targets, he says, can “tooeasily provide a rather convenient way forgovernments to say, ‘We are doing goodthings,’ when what actually would makea difference today is being overlooked.

“Climate change gives us an extrareason why attending to the MDGs is agood thing to do. We don’t have to knowwhat the climate danger is to know thatwe will make real beneficial progress forpeople if we attend to them.”

The Millennium Development Goals –agreed to by the world’s leading nations –are due to be met in 2015, just five years’time. Yet, over the last 18 monthsgovernments have backed away frommeeting these commitments, which aidworkers argue would save lives.

Micah Challenge is motivatingChristians in the UK and around theworld to hold governments to accountfor these promises. For more information,and ways to get involved, visit:micahchallenge.org.ukWomen in Mali are affected

by erratic rainfall and rising temperatures.

Lca

Simplify and strengthen

Christmas

18 how-to idea november/december 2009Do

nHam

mond

encapsulates the essence of Simplify byrecognising that Christmas is a timeof giving. The challenge is to live on halfthe money that would usually be spentduring the festive season and give the rest ofthe money to the poor.

Senior Pastor Karl Martin says, “IfChristmas is about more, eating andspending, then there is something poor aboutthat. We needto buy into theChristmas storyand recapture themessage of giving.By spending less,we then have agreater opportunityto share with those who have nothing.”

Ruth Valerio, contributor to the LivingLightly campaign run by A Rocha, is also afirm believer that Christmas does not have tomean excess and that it can be celebratedsimply and ethically. “The two big thingsyou can simplify for Christmas are food andpresents,” she says. “For presents, there are somany different ideas; you might ask peopleto buy you an alternative gift through anagency like World Vision to benefit the poor,or you might set a gift budget or say thateach family member just gets one present.”

And then there’s the food. “The greatthing about Christmas dinner is that almosteverything – the turkey and all the vegetables- can be sourced locally, which makes it moreethical,” she says.

Start simplyAs someone who isn’t particularly organised,the planning and budgeting stage was oneof the hardest bits of Simplify for me. But Idiscovered it was essential, just like havinga shopping list, in order to prevent me fromgetting swept away by habit or temptation.

A little planning can also get me off thetreadmill to enjoy a simpler Christmas. I needto take time to ask what gifts could bemade instead of bought? Where can I find

environmentally friendly and ethicalpresents? How can I spend more time withpeople instead of in the shops? How canI spend less in order to give more?

Showing appreciation to someone doesnot have to involve the biggest and beststuff; it’s usually more meaningful if weinvest creativity and inspiration. Assemblinga photo book or family calendar would be a

special memento,as would makingjam, giving awayallotment produceor creating new giftsfrom old things inthe house.

My mum lovesbeing offered a couple of hours cleaning,ironing or computer assistance, becausethat is valuable to her, especially as she canrequest it at the moment of need. Somefriends realised their nephew had already gotevery toy he could possibly need, so decidedto start giving their time to him as analternative present. He really enjoys theirtrips to the cinema or bowling alley, andthey are delighted to spend more timegetting to know him.

These gifts of time or expertise bring joylong after the Christmas rush. And perhapswe can give away the money we save topeople whose lack of funds means they findChristmas a particularly painful time of year.

“Simplify is about reviewing how we liveand tightening our belts in order to benefitothers,” says Steve Clifford, who pilotedSimplify with his wife Ann in August. “TheChristmas message is God’s message ofgenerosity to all humanity, so Christmas isan ideal time to re-think practically how wecelebrate Christmas in order to be generous.”simplify.org.uk/christmas

Lucy Cooper is a pressofficer at the Alliance

With Christmas celebrationsbecoming bigger than ever,Lucy Cooper looks at ways tomake the season easier bothfor you and the planet...

The first Christmas was on a rather tightbudget. Mary, a young mum, could notpop down to the job centre for child

benefit, and the shepherds were surely onthe minimum wage. The wise men gave upa life of relative luxury to travel for days onuncomfortable camels. But these participantsin the first Christmas certainly were not shortof love, family time and meaning.

Like many people, I usually get sostressed about shopping, cooking andwhether Sainsbury’s has any cranberry sauceleft that taking the time out to think aboutGod’s gift to the world can be relegated toa couple of hours at the carol service andchurch on Christmas morning.

Every year, the months before Christmasfill me with concerns and questions: do Ihave good enough gifts for everyone? Howcan I make it bigger and better than lastyear? Have we got sufficient food to copewhen the shops shut for two days? And howwill I afford it all?

This year, that last question hangs overthe Christmas cheer more than usual,especially for families who have lost jobsin the recession. Then there’s the guiltor concern that I might be exploitingor ignoring the poor. And add to thisdepressing statistics that reflect theenvironmental damage we contribute toannually, such as three million tonnes ofChristmas waste – that’s enough to fill350,000 double-decker buses.

But does it have to be this way? Justbecause something is “what we do atChristmas”, is it obligatory or even verymeaningful? Surely we can have a joyful,Jesus-centred holiday that’s less materialistic,more generous and more ethical.

De-cluttering the holidaysAs the Alliance’s Simplify campaigndeveloped, I and many others have allowedour lifestyle and mindset to be challenged.By living on a benefits-sized budget inOctober, we learned to identify with thosewho live on less all the time. And we wereinspired to continue increasing our generosityas we gave the remaining money away. SurelyChristmas is another perfect time to continuethis practice – to live small and think big.

Developed by Morningside Baptist Churchin Edinburgh, Just Christmas is a project that

idea november/december 2009 how-to 19

We need a Jesus-centred holiday that’sless materialistic and

more generous

Simple Christmas tips• Hold a clothes swap for sparkly new outfits for that holiday party.• Explore options for alternative gifts; check out craft markets or Fairtrade stalls.• Buy an organic turkey, get seasonal veg from a farmers’ market, plan portions and

use any leftovers.• Recycle your Christmas tree and cards and take unwanted gifts to a charity shop.• Wrap gifts creatively using last year’s paper or material; use string or ribbon instead

of tape.• Make your own decorations from old CDs, boxes or bottles, or go natural with holly,

ivy and pine cones.• Turn off the Christmas lights in the day, fully load your dishwasher before switching

it on and ask Santa for low-energy light bulbs.• Look for ethical gift ideas at simplify.org.uk/christmas

BE REFRESHEDSPRING HARVEST 2010

Plenty of space, plenty of choice for youWWW.SPRINGHARVEST.ORG/BOOK OR CALL 01825 769000

Minehead & SkegnessApril 2010

Get physical and spiritual refreshmen

encounter vibrant worship and learn from God’s word.

BE RSPRING

al and spiritual rsicyt phGe

REFRVESTHAR

eshmenfreritual r

RESHT 2010

HED

Mi h d & S

YBDEHSERFEREBOTDETCENNOCEBCOTDEGNAHCEB

al and spiritual rsicyt phGe

t waner vibrtounencd.ors wom God’fr

Sk

DROWS’DOGITSIRHCREHTOOSREHTOEGNAHC

eshmenfreritual r

ship and learn or

space, of ty Plen.SPRINGHARVEST.ORG/WWW

Minehead & SApril 2010

cof ty plenace, KOOBRVEST.ORG/ OR

Skegness

ouyor fchoice CALLR 76900001825

idea november/december 2009 advent prayer 21

Alltogether we arethe Evangelical Alliance

Sponsored by

Profile of a KingAdvent reflections on the birth of Jesus

29 November - 24 December 2009

A free copy of the Alliance’s 2009 Advent Prayer Guide, sponsored by Feba, comes with each issue of idea.If yours is missing, or you'd like additional copies, visit: eauk.org/adventprayer or tel: 020 7207 2100.

Profileof a King

During Advent, Andy Freeman offers reflectionson the birth of Jesus...

You can imagine the sneer in the comments that came afterJesus spoke in Nazareth: “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Initiallyimpressed by His authority and presence, the penny began

to drop with the hometown audience that this was simply acarpenter’s boy.

Jesus’ incredible manifesto proclamation in Luke 4 ended inHim escaping a violent mob enraged by His challenges to them.Was it Jesus’ background that made them reject Him or did thatsimply provide an excuse for them to avoid being challenged?What seems clear though is that Jesus didn’t fit their mould, Hiswasn’t within the profile of a king that they expected, so He wasrejected. This is what Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 53.3) and whatJesus had to live with for much of His life.

We spend too much time making judgments about people -who are their family; what’s their background, financial status,influence or nationality? We work so hard to place people intoboxes that pre-judging has practically become an industry.

The birth of Jesus breaks down every human divide thatwe come up with: born in poverty in a land under occupation,the legitimacy of His birth questioned, born in the least of towns,the smallest tribe, from a family line of adulterers, liars and evenmurderers. There was no glamour or fame around Him. Jesus didn’tlook like a king.

But Mary managed to work out the truth. With her Magnificat(Luke 1.46-56), she acknowledged that this humble, ordinary birthwas about to blow the social order right out of the window.

She saw that God has blessed the humble, that fearing andworshiping God was the key, not money or education or power.And then she uttered words of revolution: “He has brought downrulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filledthe hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful toAbraham and his descendants for ever, even as He said to ourfathers” (Luke 1.53-55).

Jesus was born into a state where leadership had been lost to

the Romans, and faith had been lost to the legalism and power ofthe Pharisees. The people were waiting for a king, not a humbleservant. They wanted a revolutionary, a rock star.

Instead, God went about saving people the way He’d alwaysdone it: He made Himself present with His people, but this timeit was through birth into poverty and difficulty. Jesus began lifeas a refugee, with His very existence under threat by Herod.

There is nothing glamourous about Advent, but there is an

incredible miracle that should inspire us to reach out to our worldwith the Gospel. “The Word became flesh and blood, and movedinto the neighbourhood” (John 1.14, The Message).

The Advent of Jesus speaks love and welcome to our world.His poverty, His rejection, His displacement, His persecution – theyall embrace the least in the world with His love. He can truly say,“I am with you.”

Here in the birth of Jesus the poor in spirit inherit the Kingdomof God, the mourners find their comfort, the meek truly find theearth, the merciful and the peacemaker find their champion. Thisis where all those who’ve suffered so much for so long finally findtheir release.

This Christmas, let’s be inspired by the God who came to earthto rescue us and chose to identify Himself not as a celebrity or aprince but as an ordinary man, misunderstoodby many, yet Saviour to us all.

This ordinary birth was aboutto blow the social order right

out of the window

‘ ‘

Andy Freeman pioneered 24-7 Prayer’s firstBoiler Room community and writes the blogisthisbiblical.com

Talking about...

Marc Wootton and Martin Freeman,with a classroom of schoolchildren,star in the comedy Nativity.

the nativity

culture idea november/december 200922

INCLUDES:• Packed Leaders’ Guide

• DVD featuring vox popsand exclusive soap opera

e1

idea november/december 2009 culture 23

Whether we are talkingfrom a pulpit or over agarden fence, Tony Watkinshelps us to give relevantanswers to the big issuesraised by contemporarypopular culture...

Yet as far as I can discover, there hasonly ever been one English-language featurefilm specifically about Jesus’ birth: CatherineHardwicke’s 2006 drama, The NativityStory. Another, Mary Mother of Christ,is in production for release next Easter, anda film version of the Gospel musical BlackNativity is also in the works.

The nativity story hasn’t been told veryoften on television either, although therehave been some notable examples, such as

The Liverpool Nativity two years ago.And the world of pop music has only doneslightly better, with a handful of Christmassingles over the years, most famously BoneyM’s Mary’s Boy Child from 1978. EvenChristmas cards have largely given upcelebrating the events surrounding Jesus’birth: less than 2 per cent of Christmas cardsnow show nativity scenes.

So where might people hear the narrativewhich is at the heart of Christmas? They’reunlikely to read it for themselves in the Bibleand, with church attendance in the UKdeclining, most will never hear it there either,although the numbers of people attendingat Christmas is increasing.

In all likelihood, most people willencounter the story in the form of schoolnativity plays, with all their attendant

As we gear up for another round ofseasonal warmth and good cheer, it’stime once again to embrace what our

culture calls “the true spirit of Christmas”.Most people define this as some anodynewish for peace and goodwill, a result of thepressure to keep any religious content out ofthe festivities, springing from an ill-foundedfear of offending other faiths. Meanwhile,Christians bemoan the growing separationbetween the real meaning of Christmas andthe commercial activity that overwhelms it.

Remarkably, the historical Christmasstory is rarely seen in popular culture. It’spart of our cultural backdrop, so it getsreferred to, but rarely is it looked at in itsown right. Even films about Jesus havetended to confine themselves to His ministryor the events leading up to His death.

One of the few that includes the nativityis 1965’s The Greatest Story Ever Told.Classic seasonal fare like A Christmas Carolsometimes alludes to the first Christmas,but little more. In fact, CS Lewis criticisedthe much-loved Dickens tale for lackinginterest in the nativity. So it will befascinating to see if it’s referenced at all inthis year’s new animated 3D version starringJim Carrey, which brings the total number offilm adaptations to 21.

calamities. The comedy value of theseperformances was nicely exploited in TheFlint Street Nativity a decade ago, while thenew British comedy Nativity also picks upon the seriousness with which adultsapproach them. In the film, Martin Freemanplays a headteacher who is in intenseChristmas play rivalry with the localindependent school. He raises the stakesby idly boasting that his ex-girlfriend, nowa film producer, plans to turn his school’sproduction into a Hollywood movie.

A multicultural holidayEvery year we hear about school nativityplays being dropped in favour of secularalternatives, on the basis that they areinappropriate in a multicultural society.Barring celebrations of Jesus’ birth is alsohighly offensive to Muslims, however. And asTrevor Phillips of the Equality and HumanRights Commission pointed out a couple ofyears ago, the logic of schools celebratingDiwali but not Christmas is “baffling”.

It seems we need nativity plays as oneof the few remaining ways in which peoplecan encounter the story of Jesus’ birth.The trouble is that too often they endup trivialising the historical realities andperpetuating myths. This is partly becauseschools feel pressure to do something newand improved each year and partly becausethe staff members responsible for themdon’t always understand the historicalreality.

So it’s no surprise that in 2007 thethinktank Theos found that only aroundthree-quarters of adults in Britain know themain elements of the Christmas narrative,such as Jesus being born in Bethlehem,and only 12 per cent know much about thedetails. A year earlier, a survey for CBBC’sNewsround found that only 44 per cent of

Where willpeople hear thenarrative atthe heart ofChristmas?

culture idea november/december 200924

commercialism, so we need to work hardto strip them off and allow the astonishingtruth of God stepping into our world as ahuman being to shine clearly once again.

� Find out moreabout the issuesraised in this article at:damaris.org/ideamagazine

British children aged 7–11 knew thatChristmas Day celebrates the birth of Jesus.

Amazingly, many Christians have somewrong ideas about the story as well, perhapsthanks to those nativity plays. We trot outthe line that Jesus was born in a stable, forinstance, but that’s not what Luke’s Gospelsays. Luke simply says that Jesus was laid ina manger because there was no room in theinn. The Greek word translated “inn” simplymeans “place to stay” and refers to theguestroom. Houses at the time had one

main room, partly open to a stable on oneside, and with a guest room on the other.Jesus was put in the manger between themain room and the animals, snug and warmbut out of the way. Mary and Joseph wouldhave been in the home along with membersof Joseph’s family who were there for thecensus. Bethlehem was his hometown, andit’s utterly unthinkable for them to berefused hospitality.

The biblical narrative is obscured bylayers of cultural additions, as well as by

Tony Watkins is managingeditor of Culturewatch.org

John

Bram

ley/ImageM

overs

Jim Carrey plays Ebenezer Scroogein this year’s animated version ofCharles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Film clipsCinema appeals across society’s boundaries. And films that examine importantthemes can spark lively conversation with neighbours about something moreimportant than the weather. The following aren’t for family viewing, but theycan ignite discussions...

THE WHITE RIBBON (15), by Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke,won the top prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and it’s aremarkable black and white morality tale about a German village justbefore the Great War, where the stern religious culture masks layers ofcontrol and hypocrisy. Rather than a criticism of faith, this is agripping and utterly chilling drama about the abuse of social andpolitical power that feels eerily relevant today (13 Nov).

Artifi

cialEye

TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE (15) offers five observant storiesfrom Soviet-era Romania by filmmaker Cristian Mungiu, althoughthese tales are much more amusing than his jaw-dropping abortiondrama 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Based on urban legends, eachextremely well-told story examines the resilience and inventiveness ofpeople who live under an oppressive regime, with vivid characters andsituations we can especially understand in today’s economy (30 Oct).

Trinity

COLD SOULS (12) is an offbeat drama reminiscent of Being JohnMalkovich, but with a human trafficking wrinkle as a Russian woman(the excellent Dina Korzun) smuggles souls into America. This playfullyabsurd film features a superb turn by Paul Giamatti as a version ofhimself, an actor who puts his soul in storage so he can focus on arole, then has to travel to Russia to retrieve it. What emerges is asurprisingly thoughtful look at relationships and identity (6 Nov).

TheWorks

THE MERRY GENTLEMAN (15) features a marvellously understatedperformance by Michael Keaton (who also directs) as a reclusivehitman who begins to question his efficient, solitary life when hemeets a lonely young woman (Kelly Macdonald). As the film followsthese two very private people, we discover that both of them have analmost reluctant will to survive. And it’s especially refreshing that theunderlying thriller never takes over the plot (27 Nov). RC

TheWorks

BRIGHT STAR (PG) tells the sumptuous story of the brief 1818romance between 23-year-old poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) andhis neighbour Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Jane Campion writesand directs with witty dialogue and exquisite visuals, sharply capturingdelicate social issues and eliciting performances that delve deepbeneath the surface. She also makes us acutely feel Keats’ words about“the holiness of the heart’s affections”. (6 Nov).

Pathe

WELCOME (15) is an especially involving story about immigration,centring on Simon (Vincent Lindon), a Calais swimming coach whose lifebecomes entangled with Bilal (Firat Ayverdi), a young Iraqi Kurd who’strying to get to London to see the girl he loves. What’s most remarkableabout the film is the way Simon risks everything to assist this youngman, facing up to against government bureaucracy and unjust rules toboth help Bilal and find peace in his own troubled life (6 Nov).

Cinefile

idea november/december 2009 culture 25

For more information visit www.ccli.co.u

Is your church covered?Whatever activities you are running in your church, C a simple, legal and affordable solution to your copyrig

Reproducing Song Wo ds

Photocopying

Playing/Performing Music

Showing Films

Recording Music

Downloading Song Lyrics and music

cIs your churWhatever activities you ar

dfora simple, legal and af

ed?ch coverch, C e running in your churar

dable solution to your copyrig

e information visit For mor

dfora simple, legal and af

doroducing Song WRepro

Photocopying

Playing/Performing Music

t .ccli.co.uwww

dable solution to your copyrig

ds

sic

Showing Films

ding MusicRecor

Downloading Song yrics and musicL

�

�

We respect the diversity of culture,

experience and doctrinal understanding

that God grants to His people, and

acknowledge that some differences over

issues not essential to salvation may well

remain until the end of time.

In our series relating the Alliance's Practical Resolutions to the task of mission,Susannah Clark looks at the third resolution...

range of people. When in Acts 2 the Spirit came atPentecost, the group gathered was very mixed – “Jewsfrom every nation under heaven” - and they all spokedifferent languages. Initially the message was taken tothe Jews, then to the Gentiles, as part of the commandto make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28.19).

Differences of opinionOther sources of diversity, however, are not so muchideal, but rather the reality we face in a fallen worldwhere none of us has an infallible theology and noneof us discerns the truth perfectly. Such diversity mustbe respected. Paul, for example, tolerated differencesof opinion over food sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians8). Of course, in relation to other divisions – forinstance, the necessity of circumcision – Paul wasclear as to what the right doctrinal position shouldbe (see Galatians).

A distinction, then, is required between primaryand secondary issues, and while we may be robustin regard to the former – those that are essential tosalvation - respect and humility is needed for thelatter. For as this resolution states, some differenceswill remain until the end of time.

Divisions and disagreements in the Church arenothing new. Yet while this may not be ideal, God isable to work through the Church’s weaknesses. It isremarkable that, despite struggles and with the helpof the Holy Spirit, the early Church persevered. Theylearnt to celebrate their diversity, worked together andcontinued to preach the Gospel. Diversity and divisiondidn’t cause the early Church to die. Two thousandyears later the same message preached is still beingpreached around the world.

Of course, doctrinal issues do continue to dividetoday – women in leadership and the role of spiritualgifts, to name just two. Moreover, we often harboursuspicions towards those that may not fit our

Susannah Clarkis the Alliance’sPublic TheologyResearcher

Next issue:Prayer

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul uses the analogy of thebody, made up of many parts but all cohering to awhole, to describe the Church. Each part is different

– in appearance, function and location – yet all areconnected and share in pain and joy. The parts are putinto place by God for the benefit of the whole; to beeffective they have to work together.

Chris Wright says, “There is diversity within theChurch but it exists within the fundamental unity....The Church, then, like the human body, is an organicunity with functional diversity.”

As well as a body, the Church is often likened toa family or household, a place of identity, inclusion,security, nurture and teaching. As believers in Christwe are part of God’s family, yet at the same time ourexperience of earthly families can often be one ofdisagreement and difficulty. Family members are notalways the same. If we recognise such diversity withinour earthly families, how much more should we expectdiversity within the Church, comprised of millions ofpeople around the world, transcending generations?

We cannot deny that diversity can and often doescause difficulties, but God created a multitude ofpeoples and culture, all bringing different experiences,and His ideal is that these kind of differences shouldbe celebrated, so we learn and grow from one another.

As Wright says, “The Church is a people, or ratherit is the people of the biblical God, through faith inChrist. But it is also a multi-national people, in whichmembership is open to all, Jew and Gentile, male andfemale, slave and free” (Galatians 3.28).

The picture that Revelation paints is that suchdiversity will still exist in the new heavens and newearth: “After this I looked and there before me was agreat multitude that no one could count, from everynation, tribe, people and language, standing beforethe throne and in front of the Lamb,” (Revelation 7.9).

Similarly, God built the early Church from a diverse

the basics idea november/december 200926

particular style of Christianity – left wing, right wing,conservative, charismatic. The Church however has facednumerous crisis points and has often emerged stronger andmore united as a result – perhaps this should give us hope forthe Church in the differences it faces today.

Unity does of course require effort, action and co-operation.Paul urged the Ephesians, “Make every effort to keep the unity ofthe Spirit through the bond of peace,” (Ephesians 4.3). Perhapspart of this effort is learning to celebrate and appreciate diversityrather than being suspicious of it.

This doesn’t mean we don’t contend for the truth – thereason the Evangelical Alliance has a Basis of Faith is because webelieve there are some things that should not be compromised.However, rather than spending hours debating and disagreeingover the non-essentials, what surely matters for all of us is toget on with the task of loving God, loving our neighbours andmaking disciples of all nations.

The early Christian communities were tiny in comparisonto the prevailing Greco-Roman culture and they often facedpersecution. Against this, what united them was far more

significant than their internal squabbling. So they overcame theirdifferences, united and preached the Gospel, and the Church grew.

Perhaps if the Church today can start to overcome itsdifferences and focus on the essentials, learning to celebratediversity and aiming for unity, we would send a powerfulmessage to the culture around us. And we might just begin tosee again the kind of growth that the early Church witnessed.

� The Practical Resolutions of the Evangelical Alliance can befound at: eauk.org/resolutions

Differences should becelebrated, so we learn and

grow from one another

Julie

Olson

01622 682255

RestorationSilent Lights is seeking to restore Christian imagery by producing a range of decorations which clearly re� ect the Christian Christmas message.

DeclarationSilent Lights’ unique outdoor decorations provide individuals, Churches and organisations with the opportunity to declare their faith in a creative and culturally relevant way.

IlluminationThe growing trend to decorate the outside of homes and gardens with Christmas lights provides Christians with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the Light of the World within your own neighbourhood.

Christian illumination

Res

tora

tion

Dec

lara

tion

Illu

min

atio

n

Darren

Greenwood

Find the trainingyou need to serve…

www.eauk.orgClick on Training Search

– at the top right of the right hand sidebar(under Church Search and Organisation Search)

All types

of training

throughout

the UK

Church Search

Organisation Search

Training Search

your voice idea november/december 200928

Struggling with simplicityThe idea of the Alliance’s Simplify campaign(Simplify Your Life, Sep/Oct) is wonderful.But am I the only person who’s reallystruggled to put it into practice? I hope not.

I want to be the kind of person who canlive contentedly on £5 a day, but find thatI’m not. Little treats shore up my days andweeks, even if it’s something as simple asa new book.

Giving away what you haven’t spentseems even harder. What about saving for arainy day? Or simply just adding in a bit ofprotection against the current recession?

So while I haven’t succeeded in stickingto Simplify, it has shone a revealing lighton my motivation when it comes to money.I don’t like what I’ve discovered aboutmyself and want to change – even if it’snot in such a comprehensive way as you’vemanaged. Thanks to Simplify for that.Sally Briggs, Salisbury

A timely pointDavid Taylor (Your Voice, Sep/Oct) is rightto attack greed and materialism in thenation. With bonus payments returning tothe world of banking, this is a timely pointto make.

However, he is wrong to criticise thepublic sector in his letter. Those who workfor the state may be less likely to be maderedundant, but surely there are goodreasons for this. Many work in educationor health, for instance, performing tasksthat have to continue. And I’m all in favourof well-paid doctors and nurses.

With more working people becomingunemployed, we also need people to staffjob centres and help with social securitypayments to those out of work.

Yes, those who have been maderedundant need to be compensated forloss of income. Perhaps taxing those bonuspayments to bankers would be a good wayto start.Graeme Kemp, Wellington, Shropshire

Ongoing conversationI agree with David Taylor (Your Voice,Sep/Oct) that our economy does not haveto rely on debt and materialism. But therewere two aspects of his earlier letter(May/Jun) that persuaded me to respond.

Firstly, he appeared to be offeringsimplistic solutions to complex problems.

that a Christian church could do such athing, or that you could print such anarticle. Where in Scripture is Jesus referredto as anyone but the Son of God? Jesus wasand is a man. This article would appear togive support to those in the world whoridicule Jesus and His Church. They couldsay, "Even the Church thinks Jesus was awoman."

I am very sad that the Alliance could inany way allow the name of our great Lordand Saviour to be anything other thanglorified. Please help me understand whyyou included this article.David, by email

EDITOR'S REPLY: We chose to include thisarticle because it was about a local churchengaging with its community in a boldway that crossed boundaries and stirrednonbelievers to consider the life of Christ.As described in the story, this was partof an artistic performance, not a literalrepresentation.

A small differenceSome charities are seeing their gift supportfall because of the current economicrecession. It is therefore good to be ableto report that the recent annual gifts madeto 38 Christian charities by Gospel Cardsetc, on behalf of their customers, took thetotal given to date to over £250,000.

Each year evangelical Christiancharities registered in the UK are invited toenter into partnership with Gospel Cardsetc. In return for drawing the attentionof their supporters to Christmas cards,calendars and diaries, each charityreceives a share of a royalty on the saleof those items.

The reality is that each customer hasmade a gift through their purchase, and wesimply collate those gifts and pass them onto the charities.

John Macey, executive director of TeenChallenge, a Christian organisation that hasbenefited through this arrangement, says,“We have been linked to Gospel Cards etcin this way for about 10 years. During thattime we have received thousands of pounds,which has assisted us in the work we doamongst people with life-controllingproblems.”

Our prayer is that the gifts generatedwill be a very real help for the charities,and that our publications will be spirituallyhelpful to all who receive them. We inviteChristians to join with us to support thesecharities. Details can be found atgospelcardsetc.comMichael Hard, Bridgend

That was the issue dealt with in my previousletter (Jul/Aug). Secondly, his letterappeared to be suffused with bitternessand resentment towards those whosecircumstances appeared more favourablethan his own, in particular those employedin the public sector.

It may well be true that the public sectorenjoys better job security in a recession.However, in times of economic boom it isnothing unusual to hear public sectorworkers complaining that their pay neverseems to keep pace with those in the privatesector. Workers in both sectors tend to

begrudge the other its advantages whilsttaking for granted the advantages of theirown sector.

Surely such attitudes of resentment arejust as much an expression of materialisticdesire as is the reliance on debt of whichTaylor complains.Chris Robins, Kidlington, Oxon

Help me understandI have been a member and supporter of theAlliance for many years. I find idea to be abalanced and scripturally based magazine,but in the latest edition one article hascaused me great concern.

The article in question is At the Heart ofthe City (Sep/Oct), which says, “With thehelp of two professional actors, they actedout the crucifixion with a female Jesus.”When I read the article, I could not believe

Letters should be sent to idea@eauk.org or idea, 186 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4BT.Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. The Editor reserves the rightto edit letters for length and clarity. We regret that we are not able to engage in personalcorrespondence. Everyone who has a letter printed on this page will receive a thank you gift.

�

29idea november/december 2009 guest essay

enormous magnitude and proportions –not local but global, not of seven yearsduration but lasting indefinitely.Information about it has not come throughdreams but through science. To many,science and God are not connected. But ifwe believe in a creator God, the science wedo is God’s science. Climate change scienceis bringing two important messages of thesevere impact on billions of the world’spoorest people and the threat to millions ofthe world’s species.

Those of us in rich countries need tobe reminded that, over 200 years since theindustrial revolution, we have grown rich

through cheap energy from the burning offossil fuels. We have not realised its effecton the world’s climate nor that the damagefalls disproportionately on the world’spoorest. There is therefore an inescapablemoral imperative for rich countries to avoidfurther damage by rapidly reducing theircarbon emissions and to share their wealthand skills with developing countries toenable them to adapt to climate changeand build their economies sustainably.

For Christians this imperative comesover with particular potency. We live intimes when we are raping the Earth andexploiting the poor. The flow of wealth inthe world is overwhelmingly from the poorto the rich – a statistic that should make usall blush with shame. The Bible, from itsfirst chapters through the prophets, the

ministry of Jesus and to its last book, putshigh priorities on caring for the Earth andcaring for the poor.

What can we do?Much detailed advice is available fromenvironmental organisations and aidagencies such as Tearfund. We need towork hard to reduce our personal carbonfootprint through such actions as buyinggreen electricity and ensuring that ourhomes, shopping and transport are asenergy efficient as possible. Through ourchurches and communities, we need tosupport aid to poorer countries and pressour government, through national andinternational action, to move rapidlytowards zero carbon emissions.

In December, the world’s nationsmeet in Copenhagen to set targets and atimetable for action. Christians are callingfor worldwide prayer and many are sayingit is the most important meeting the worldhas ever seen.

Four thousand years ago Joseph hadseven years to prepare for his climate crisis.Today, action is required just as urgently.Global carbon emissions are still risingrapidly. Within about seven years, wellbefore 2020, global emissions need to peakand begin rapidly to reduce – an extremelychallenging goal. The means to achieve itare available and affordable. But is the willthere to do it?

A tremendous challenge andunmistakeable opportunity are presentedto the worldwide Church to shoulder theseGod-given responsibilities. God is there tohelp us do it.

Christians in the rich world and thedeveloping world must get togetherin partnership and take the lead todemonstrate love for God, the world’screator and redeemer, and love for ourneighbours, remembering the words ofJesus: “From everyone who has been givenmuch, much will be demanded” (Luke12.48).

� Sir John Houghton is the former headof the IPCC and a founding member ofthe International Society for Science andReligion. His book Global Warming: TheComplete Briefing is now in its fourthedition (Cambridge, 2009).

A challenge for the Church

There is compelling evidence that theworld is warming and the climatechanging, largely because of human

activities in burning coal, oil and gas.Through the Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change, the world scientificcommunity has been able to give detailedinformation about what is likely to happen.

Increased global temperatures makeclimate extremes more likely. For instance,a heatwave of unprecedented intensityin central Europe in 2003 led to thepremature deaths of over 20,000 people.Higher temperatures also lead to moreenergy entering the atmosphere’scirculation that in turn brings morefrequent and intense floods, droughtsand storms. Further, because ocean waterexpands as it warms and because ofincreased melting of polar ice, the sea levelis rising by about one metre per century.

The impact of these changes is alreadyevident. Within a few decades they willseverely affect billions of people aroundthe world. The damage will be greatest forpoor countries in the developing world;it is there that climate extremes will bemost severe and where there is littlecapability to adapt to them. Within40 years, there could be 150 million ormore environmental refugees whose homesare no longer habitable because of risingsea levels, flooding or persistent drought.

Climate ForecastIn early Bible history, Egypt’s Pharoah hada worrying dream. The interpretation ofthat dream, which God gave to Joseph,was a forecast of a climate crisis: sevenyears of plenty to be followed by sevenyears of severe famine. Joseph was put incharge of storing the grain during the yearsof plenty and of distributing it when thefamine came.

Joseph’s brothers, who had sold himinto slavery, had to travel 300 milesfrom Canaan to buy grain from Egypt.Joseph told them, “Do not be angry withyourselves for selling me here, because itwas to save lives that God sent me aheadof you” (Genesis 45.5). Clearly, God trulycared about the peoples of Egypt andnearby countries threatened by starvationbecause of the climate crisis.

Today we face a climate crisis of

The Bible putshigh priorities

on caring for theEarth and the poor

In the run-up to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, noted atmosphericphysicist Sir John Houghton examines the biblical imperative...

DesignPics

they started an informal Alpha course with themedconversations about the God behind all that the children andparents were experiencing.

One of the leaders is a young woman whose faith hadbeen completely renewed through contact with the team, andshe subsequently joined the church. Through her desire toinvest more of her time and energy, a place called ABC grewout of Danceabout. Here parents can come for a chat and acoffee, hear a relevant talk by a health professional, encourageeach other and be refreshed.

These two initiatives have over the years connected withmore than 500 families. This is the kind ofremarkable good news story that can showsociety how relevant the Church is to acommunity. And we need to be tellingthese kinds of stories, as they can helpopen people's hearts to the message ofJesus Christ.

Of course, the Church doesn’t alwaysget it right. For me and my family, Churchhas at times been a source of pain alongwith some of our greatest joys. But I can’tget away from the fact that God hasdecided to use the Church as His agent forchange. And this is a privilege as well as achallenge.

I agree with Willow Creek’s Bill Hybelswhen he says, “The local church is thehope of the world.” So let’s stop knockingthe Church and let’s challenge the media,which just loves to stereotype this God-given, Spirit-empowered family of Jesus’people.

And there are many more stories to betold. Last year as I travelled the countryas chair of Hope08, I saw some wonderful

examples of the Church positioning itself at the heart ofcommunities, being good news as well as preaching good newsthrough events from large, citywide missions to clean-up daysat community centres. We need to tell these stories of theChurch getting outside its buildings and hitting the streets(such as Street Pastors working in some 100 towns every Fridayand Saturday night), offering debt counselling and runningcourses like Alpha, Christianity Explored and Lyfe.

I am making it my job to gather these stories and sharethem. I’m also looking for the stories of the unsung Churchheroes, people who are humbly making sacrifices to transformthe lives of others. And I’d like to hear personal stories ofhope, redemption and transformation – how God has helpedindividual Christians through difficult times in ways they couldnever have even imagined.� If you have a story of what’s happening in your churchor churches together in your area, please write to us:yourstories@eauk.org

As we sat having coffee together in a London hotel, Johnasked me, “So what’s your theory of change?” I wasn’tsure I had one, but I wasn’t going to admit it.

He realised I was struggling, so began to explain by wayof a story about a young North American business executivewhose life was turned upside down by the death of a closefamily member in a random shooting. He felt like he had todo something about it, and a conversation some months laterwith a young mother shaped his strategy. The motherexplained her concern at her child visiting other homes: “Whoknows?” she said, “They might have a gun in the house.”

So a theory of change began toemerge: perhaps mothers asking othermothers if there’s a gun in the housecould create a climate where people beginto feel embarrassed and put pressure onthe owner of the gun, usually the father,to get rid of it. In this case, maybemothers could help change a culture.

“So,” said John again, “what’s yourtheory of change?”

Suddenly it became easy. “It’s theChurch,” I said.

I believe that God’s primary agentfor change right across our society is theChurch. God is committed to change, andHe instigated His change theory thousandsof years ago in His people, empowered bythe Holy Spirit to bring change to thefallen world in which we live.

The Evangelical Alliance is absolutelyconvinced that the Christian faith andunited Christians are good news for thehealth and wellbeing of our nation –physically, emotionally and spiritually. Assuch we want to champion Jesus’ Church(it’s not our church), tell the stories of the Church, speak withand for the Church and provide resources and support whereappropriate to enable the Church to be even more effective(Square Mile, Slipstream and Simplify are just three examples).

And it’s not just church on a Sunday morning – it’schurch 24/7 in the work place, in educational institutions,leisure centres, our streets, neighbourhoods and homes.It’s not just for a few special trained people either – it’s forall of us.

Inspirational storiesThese stories can both inspire people with ideas that work andshow the world that the Church is making a positive difference.For example, I recently met a young woman who is marriedwith a small child and wanted to reach out to other mums andchildren in her area. Nearly nine years ago she and othersstarted Danceabout, a fun-filled, action-packed pre-school clubthat's now attended by some 75 children each week. Last term

last word idea november/december 200930

Our theory of changeThe Alliance’s General Director Steve Clifford encourages us to startsharing good news stories about the Church...

God has decided touse the Church as

His agent for change

AnnClifford

�

�

Payment detailsI enclose a cheque made payable to MU Enterprises Ltd for

£12 for one UK gift subscription £20 for two UK gift subscriptions £27 for three UK gift subscriptions

Complete the address details above and send this form with your payment to Families First GiftSubscription, Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RB, phone 020 7227 0620 to pay bycredit card or order on line at www.families�rstmagazine.com

I would like to give Families First as a gift this ChristmasYour detailsYour full name: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Address: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................................Postcode: ......................................................................

Daytime telephone number:..............................................................................................................................................................................................

Your gift will be sent with a Christmas card to say that the gift is from you.

Recipient’s detailsGift subscription 1

Name: ..................................................................................................................

Address:............................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................

Postcode:........................................................................................................

Gift subscription 2

Name: ..................................................................................................................

Address:............................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................

Postcode:........................................................................................................

Gift subscription 3

Name: ..................................................................................................................

Address:............................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................

Postcode:........................................................................................................

PLUS LEANINGTOG

THER paren sgoin

gba ktos hool

WN a abulous k i

ngh l day or wo

in heFrnchA ps

Enc u aing s on

g m r aes go

d p reni g cti e a

hs ue 6 S p em

b O obe 009 £2

www fa i e i tm g z e com

AMUM SRE NIONMe t n

t e s n

I g ve awy

RAQ SMOTHERSSewi g

or

e ce

EN OYINGSPORTMak n

f o b ll

a am yf ir

SimplifyCanyouliveonless?

familiesfirst

PLUS: LEARNINGTOGETHER:parentsgoingbackt sc

ool

WIN:afabulousskiingholidayfort

wointheFrenchA

lps

Encouraging strong marriages good parenting active faith Issue 6 September/October 2009 £2

www.familiesfirstmagazine.com

AMUM’SREUNION‘Meeting the sonI gave away’

IRAQ’SMOTHERSSewing forpeace

ENJOYINGSPORTMaking footballa family affair

SimplifyCanyouliveonless?

familiesfirst

Give Families First as a gift

*Contact the Families First o�ce for subsciption prices outside the UK. Send us your order by Wednesday 16 December 2009 (for Christmas delivery to UK ad-dresses – 2 December for elsewhere) and your gift will include the latest issue of Families First sent in time for Christmas. Orders received by these dates will besent out before the Royal Mail last posting dates. MU Enterprises Ltd cannot be held responsible for delivery once posted.

• Every issue encourages strongmarriages, good parenting &active faith

• Contributors includeLindsay Melluish andMichele Guinness

• Six issues for £12* –Families First makes agreat gift which lastsall year

• Give two gift subscriptions for £20* or

• Give three gift subscriptions for just £27* –just £9 for each gift!

t: 020 7227 0620 e: familiesfirst@themothersunion.org www.familiesfirstmagazine.com