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LIFE IS ON SONGFOR LARA MARTINLife turns into lyrics for new album

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POP STAR BOWS DOWN TO JESUS Dax OCallaghan leads worship at Kensington Temple

CELEBRATING SIX ELIM CHAMPIONS Chris Cartwright puts the spotlight on leading ministers

UNWANTED AND ADOPTED AS A BABY Heavenly Father got me through, says Christine Caine

CHURCH & TOWN BOTH ON THE UP We visit Elim Christian Centre in Rotherham

MAKING LIFE WORK BETTER How to get your church into the news D

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5 EDITORIALJohn Glass on the power of forgiveness

6 GOD AND LONDON WERE CALLINGDave Langton moved to an Elim church in London and is now building for the future

10 NEWS from Elim and the wider church

12 OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE GSJohn Glass opens his diary

14 ITS A PEARL OF A DEBUT ALBUMSome of Lara Martins life-defining moments have been turned into songs for an album

16 WE LIKE TO GIVE THINGS A GORotherhams Paul Folland explains how custard pies help his church reach out

18 POP STAR SINGING FOR THE LORDFormer child prodigy Dax OCallaghan is now using his talents to lead worship

22 I UNDERSTAND PEOPLES PAINConference speaker Christine Caine uses her life experience to help tackle trafficking

25 RISE UP AND STEP OUT FOR GODGod made us in his image, so get ready to succeed, says Anna Symonds in Aspire

26 MEET SIX OF THE BEST IN ELIMChris Cartwright turns the spotlight on six key ministers in the South West and Wales

28 TAKING FAITH IN CHRIST SERIOUSLYNo more clowning around for Treflyn Jones

30 TRAGIC EVENT IS STARK REMINDERTime is the one thing none of us can guarantee, says Pastor Brian Synnott

32 TALK BOLDLY ABOUT CHURCHJanet Whitehead explains why shes not embarrassed to tell people about faith

33 REACH QUESTIONS Gary Gibbs says religion is more about why than how

35 KEEPING HOLD OF THE YOUTH Do your own courting, says Mark Pugh

36 PODCASTS REACH THOUSANDSHow a group of small churches in Essex is using digital media to spread the message

37 MUSIC REVIEWS with Ian Yates

38 BOWS ABOUT THAT THEN? How American footballer Tim Tebow has sparked a new prayer phenomenon

40 THE HARVEST IS NOW IN SEASONWe must reap harvest previous generations planted, says evangelist Daniel Kolenda

43 FOOD FOR THOUGHT Dr Sharon Kane shares her advice on healthy eating

44 HOW TO MAKE HEADLINES Robbie Lane offers some handy tips to churches

45 BOOK REVIEWS with Richard Dodge

49 ANSWERS with Phil Weaver

50 AND FINALLY with John Lancaster

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Church Direction Representatives: please advise any alterations to your order before the 10th of each month

Direction Magazine is the official publication of the Elim Pentecostal Churchwww.elim.org.uk 0845 302 6750

Editor-in-Chief: John Glass, General Superintendent Publishers: Elim Pentecostal Church Elim International Centre, De Walden Road, West Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4DFCharity no. 251549 (England) SC037754 (Scotland) Disclaimer: Views expressed in articles and news reports do not necessarily reflect the view of the Editor or the official position of the Elim Pentecostal Church. The acceptance and publication of advertising does not indicate editorial endorsement. All submitted articles are subject to editing due to space restrictions. By submitting articles, writers accept their articles may be edited.

Publishing agents: New Life Publishing Co, PO Box 777, Nottingham, NG11 6ZZ, EnglandTel: 0115 824 0777 Website: www.newlifepublishing.co.ukEmail: editor@newlife.co.uk or orders@newlife.co.uk

Printers: Buxton Press Limited, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AE

Back copies: previous issues are available while stocks last, at cover price plus 1.00 handling charge, incl. p&p, per order.

1814Elim Pentecostal Church@elimpentecostal

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5Last month I wrote about the positive influences that leave indelible impressions on us. However, who we are today has also been shaped by the destructive tendencies of those who have crossed our paths. What we do with those moments is pivotal in our growth and spiritual development. That is why it is important to keep short accounts with God and with others.

During the Communion service the pastor will often read the passage that says that we should examine ourselves before we eat of the bread or drink of the cup. It is an invitation to a spiritual audit to ensure that we draw a line around anything that, left unchecked, could poison relationships in either a vertical or horizontal direction.

Time Magazine revealed recently that, although the war in Vietnam ended 40 years ago, 104,296 people have been killed or injured by land mines after the apparent cessation of hostilities. The con-flict had concluded but collateral damage was still going on. The spiritual parallel is obvious.

Personal conflicts often leave incendiary de-vices in their wake. That is why we find ourselves tiptoeing around people with unresolved issues. We call it walking on eggshells. But it is because we are aware of lifes ballistics that we become nervous of the explosive nature of shells of a dif-ferent calibre.

Forgiveness sometimes takes time and always takes courage. It was CS Lewis who said, We all believe that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it ourselves. Lewis also wrote, To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable in others because God has forgiven the inexcus-able in us.

Nevertheless, many carry baggage for a life-time because we forget that forgiveness is not a

feeling; it is a conscious choice that we make with our will.

Ernest Hemmingway tells the story of a father who had been alienated from his son for so long he no longer knew his address only that he lived in Madrid. He decided to put an advertisement in the local paper that read, Paco, meet me at the hotel Montana at noon next Wednesday, your father. When the day arrived the civil guard had to disperse a mob of 800 young men, each named Paco, who had come to be reconciled with their father!

The aftermath of war is devastation; the con-sequence of peace is restoration.

John Wesley and George Whitefield disagreed vehemently during their lifetime on theological issues. One day a woman asked Whitefield if he expected to see Wesley in heaven, to which he replied, No. Thinking she had a morsel of gossip, she asked why.

Because, said Whitefield, he will be so near the throne of God I will not get even a glimpse of him. When Whitefield died it was Wesley he had arranged to speak at his funeral.

In 1993, the farsighted decision was taken to convert 500 tons of Russian weapons grade uranium into fuel for American nuclear power plants. When the process is finished in 2013, the equivalent of 20,000 Soviet missiles will have been repurposed to warm and light the very same homes that they were created to destroy. Disarmament of any kind always reaps a harvest of righteousness.

John GlassGeneral SuperintendentElim Pentecostal ChurchD

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The power of forgiveness

FIR ST WOR DS

David Langton had vowed that he would never lead a church in London. The father-of-two was settled at Beacon Com-munity Church in Burntwood and had no plans to move. But out of the blue a phone call came that changed his familys life forever.

London was the only place that I said I would never go, he laughs. But there was a message left on my phone and I said to my wife, Were going to go, arent we? I just knew straight away.

That was 18 months ago and now the Langtons are well established at Leytonstone Elim Church in east London and have already started ambitious build-ing plans. But David admits that he was nervous when it came

to taking over from the previous leader.

Mervyn Tilley was the original pastor and hes an amaz-ing man of God, says David. Hed done a fantastic job for 26 years so they were big shoes to fill. The legacy left by him and his wife is enormous.

When David took over, the church had about 300 mem-bers. But it has now grown to 400.

The church is in an area thats known as very poor, yet its vibrant in culture, he ex-plains. Its quite a strong Muslim area and there are a lot of East-ern European people moving in. Its a very mixed diverse church, which I absolutely love. I felt at home very quickly. New streams of ministry have started

to emerge. We started to focus on the family we wanted to create an atmosphere that was based on relationship. We need to understand that church is a big family. Its not just about coming to a service its a lifestyle.

From that were trying to create a vision that is based around families and the commu-nity. Weve set up a crisis team to help in these areas. We have a high influx of people in the area with immigration issues so we run a night shelter.

We want to create for everyone a place that they can come and be loved. As a result were looking at installing a laun-derette and shower block for people who dont have access to these basic needs. But firstly

How faith and fashion are coming together to help one Elim church

fund its ambitious new building project

London and God were calling, so I knew it was time to move

Above David Langton who has led Leytonstone Elim for 18 months

Opposite page Plans for the church revamp and youth leader Benjy Owusu-Daaku whose fashion and photography show has helped raise money

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we are looking at redeveloping the existing church building.

This redevelopment comes in two stages. Phase one is a refurbishment of the existing building before the minor hall is demolished in phase two.

Phase one will increase our capacity to 500, David says. We will have a new reception centre and entrance, new of-fices, a coffee and reading area and book shop. When its fin-ished we will have changed the whole style of the church.

I was brought up under a pastor at Wirral Christian Cen-tre who believed in big vision and thats always stuck with me. I want to create a stronger youth driven culture because they are the future.

With this in mind, David is all about releasing and equipping the young people of the church in finding innovative ways of sharing the gospel.

Weve released our young people into worship which has been fantastic, he says. In September well start a music and dance school as a commu-nity outreach. Well be offering lessons to people to create a church thats very much about the creative arts.

Im trying to encourage the church to think outside of the box. We shouldnt be held back by what weve done in the past. I hope it will be a platform for evangelism. I want our guys to be creative in every level whether its photography, graphic design, music or dance. We should use these gifts for Jesus so that people will be saved.

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Fashion and photography has helped Elim Leytonstone raise money for its plans to revamp its building. In March, youth leader Benjy Owusu-Daaku and fashion designer Sarah Yombo-djema put on a fashion show and photography auction for the building fund.

We were looking for a creative way to raise money and to get the message out to the community and get them en-gaged with the church, Benjy, 27, explains.

After speaking with Pastor David he realised our potential and at first I thought about doing a photographic auction. Then he came up with the idea of doing a big event that combines the talents of different people in the church.

The Urban Couleur Fashion Show was attended by 200 people and 2,700 was raised for the building fund.

It went really well, Benjy says. A lot of non-Christians came and were surprised that there was a fashion show in a church. We had comments like, Ive never seen church like this before. It was something that was outside of the box but it was well received.

Benjys photographs sparked a bidding war and raised 1,300. That was pleasantly surprising, he laughs. Theyre about look-ing at London in a better way a reflection of my Christian faith. When I became a Christian I was so excited. When were in faith we tend to judge others who arent in the faith.

I learned to look beyond faith values. A lot of people wear masks. Im learning whats behind the way that people be-have. This is reflected in my col-lection of photographs where I try to look at things from a different perspective.

As Christians, God came to save us and build a relation-ship with us. God would come down and speak with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden on a one to one level. Thats the

message we want to send out that were not here to judge people but to love people.

In the Bible, Jesus said, Come as you are. God under-stands that were not perfect. What he wants is an honest relationship.

The story behind Sarahs collection is the struggle be-tween her faith and a career that is often misunderstood within Church circles. The 22-year-old almost gave up on fashion until God showed her that she could educate women through her work.

I struggled in the past with whether I could work in the fashion industry and be a Chris-tian, but God showed me that I had a gift and I should use it, she explains.

As a Christian people think that were boring and when it comes to fashion we dont really have a place. I wanted to show that you can be a Christian and dress nicely.

There are all these pres-sures that Christian women put on themselves not to reveal too much and they can get lost in that. I realised that you can still

look glamorous while honour-ing God. So I came up with the idea of a fashion show but I wasnt sure how church and a fashion show would work. God started to show me that I could educate women on how to look nice and feel like a woman yet still please the Lord.

The result was an African collection with a Western feel aimed at women aged 1826.

Ive been working for a year now on this collection, Sarah says. I hope that it will appeal to all women. Ive been designing since I was seven. I went to col-lege and did my BTEC. When I finished the course I knew that I wanted to study fashion.

I stopped designing for a long time because I was look-ing for who I was in God. I was looking for my purpose and for what God wanted me to do.

But I realised that Id been putting of f fashion and had stopped designing because I thought that I wasnt good enough. My testimony is that you can do all things through Christ, and now Im working in fashion again and believing that.

My testimony is that you can do all things through Christ, and now Im working in fashion again and believing that

AboveThe Urban Couleur fashion show at Leytonstone Elim. Inset: fashion designer Sarah Yombo-djema, model Sherne Hamilton and youth leader Benjy Owusu-Daaku; some of the designs on show

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DIRECTION Magazine is the official publication of Elim Pentecostal Church

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JUNE 2011Issue 117 1.70

New Elim album strikes a chord

THE SOUND OF A MOVEMENT

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Vox pop!Elim singing sensation BeBe Vox and her dramatic charts entry

Bringing light into the darknessHow Sian Davies helps abused orphans in Uganda

Let people know the Church is alive!says Elim Bible Week speaker Phil Pringle

Radical believers requiredThe Holy Spirit wants to transform cold, inactive believers, says Colin DyeD

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Taking church outside the box

GETTING OUT OFTHE SALT SHAKER

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Stand up and be countedBig Society is a great opportunity but also a grave danger, warns Malcolm Duncan

Building hope amid devastationBrighton Elim gets to work in Haiti

Getting your kids through churchwithout them hating God Rob Parsons

Revolutionising our universitiesTop tips for helping your school leavers make a great transition to universityD

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AUGUST 2011Issue 119 1.70

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Work is just as important as worship, whoever your employer isWork is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, Work is just as important as worship, SERVING GOD?

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PLUSInvesting in next generation is vitalWe talk to key Bible Week speakers Dave Smith, Malcolm Duncan and Andy Hawthorne

Chaplaincy mattersMan Utd chaplain speaks at Prestatyn

Know what you believeWe need childlike faith, not childish thinking

Time to move to TelfordTop new location planned for Elim Bible Week 2012D

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SEPTEMBER 2011Issue 120 1.70

or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part? or just playing the part?FOLLOWING JESUS

Hand church over to the youngWe must make room for the 20s and 30s to minister, says Graham Hutchinson

Dodging death in IraqWe talk to the Vicar of Baghdad

Serving up hope and the gospelGill Fowler is cooking up a fuss in Somerset

How two words changed my lifeAlex Wilmott and the weird teenage evangelist who led him to Christ

Hypocrisy is alive and well, warns John Glass

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WHY WE MUST FIX OUR EYES ON JESUSFaith demands more than a glance

BIG SOCIETY AT WORK IN BARKING How one church is helping rebuild the community

FIND OUT WHAT GOD IS DOING... Then get involved, says Evangelical Alliance boss

THE ROOTS OF SPIRITUAL DECLINE Are we making authentic Christ followers, asks Colin Dye

GENTLEMEN ARE LEAGUES AHEAD RTC students get serious about being polite

REACHING OUT AT EASTER Ten great ideas to help you stay fresh D

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OUR EYES ON JESUSOUR EYES ON JESUSOUR EYES ON JESUSFaith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance

BIG SOCIETY AT WORK IN BARKING How one church is helping rebuild the community

FIND OUT WHAT GOD IS DOING... Then get involved, says Evangelical Alliance boss

THE ROOTS OF SPIRITUAL DECLINE Are we making authentic Christ followers, asks Colin Dye

LEAGUES AHEADLEAGUES AHEAD

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OUR EYES ON JESUSOUR EYES ON JESUS Get yourDirectionMagazineevery month

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BIG SOCIETY AT WORK IN BARKING How one church is helping rebuild the community How one church is helping rebuild the community

FIND OUT WHAT GOD IS DOING...

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JUNE JUNE JUNE JUNE JUNE 20112011201120112011Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70Issue 117 1.70

New Elim album strikes a chord

THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF THE SOUND OF A MOVEMENTA MOVEMENTA MOVEMENTA MOVEMENTA MOVEMENTA MOVEMENTA MOVEMENTA MOVEMENTA MOVEMENTA MOVEMENT

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Vox pop!Elim singing sensation BeBe Vox and her dramatic charts entry

Bringing light into the darknessHow Sian Davies helps abused orphans in Uganda

Let people know the Church is alive!says Elim Bible Week speaker Phil Pringle

Radical believers requiredThe Holy Spirit wants to transform cold, inactive believers, says Colin DyeD

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Taking church outside the boxTaking church outside the boxTaking church outside the box

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Stand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedStand up and be countedBig Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also Big Society is a great opportunity but also a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns a grave danger, warns Malcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm DuncanMalcolm Duncan

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WHY WE MUST FIX WHY WE MUST FIX OUR EYES ON JESUSOUR EYES ON JESUSFaith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance Faith demands more than a glance

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South West

Nigel Somers, KeynshamNigel became the senior pastor of Keynsham Elim in May 2010 but his connections with the church go back over 30 years. He first went there in 1978, and over the years has been involved in almost every aspect of church life, serving as a youth and Sunday school leader, elder and associ-ate pastor under founder, Des Morton.

For Nigel and his wife, Carol, Keynsham Elim has been a true spiritual home where they have been nurtured, equipped and encouraged and where they now have the joy and responsibility of developing and releasing others.

Nigels background is in IT and for many years he has com-bined a highly successful career in that industry with the growing demands of ministry.

Tony Murphy, Newport, Isle of WightTony has been leading Church On The Roundabout in New-port, Isle of Wight, for the past 12 years. Until July last year he was juggling the responsibilities of the church with being a science teacher at the local high school. Then he finally took the step to leave teaching to concentrate fully on ministry. With his wife, Sally, he has had the joy of seeing the

Sunday morning congregation increase from 20 to around 80 with lots of people becom-ing Christians on the way. The church is full of life, with a great reputation in the community and loads of creative outreach.

Its not surprising that under Tony and Sallys leadership the church is flourishing. They have even won an award for their involvement in the community.

Colin James, Andover Colin has been the pastor of Andover Elim for more than 18 years. Arriving as a single man, he married Angela, a member of the congregation, and they set about leading the church into a time of significant growth and blessing.

One of their greatest achieve-ments has been to oversee the demolition of an old one-storey building and the construction of a two-storey multi-purpose church centre that now provides the base for all-age ministry and is a thriving hub of activity.

The church runs a highly suc-cessful pre-school education cen-tre and has been heavily involved in forming the Street Pastor team which operates in the town cen-tre. This commitment to commu-nity involvement is matched by a keen sense of the presence and power of God as the church gath-ers to worship. I commend Colin and Angelas faith and faithfulness

in being committed long-term to building a strong and fruitful church in Andover.

Eric Heylen, DorsetEric hails from South Africa, and his wife, Emma, is from South Wales. After pastoring our Bog-nor church, Eric was asked to also take pastoral oversight of the Hayling Island church 20 miles away. For over 18 months, Eric and Emma led both churches, whilst also working to support their family. During this time of tremendous effort and faithful-ness they saw Gods provision and blessing.

They moved to Wimborne, Dorset, one year ago to take up the challenge of a fresh season of mission and ministry in the town. Already the church is growing and there is an evident sense of Gods hand upon the Fellowship.

Eric is a passionate preacher of Gods Word who believes that God has a plan for everyone. I believe this church is in for an exciting time under Eric and Emmas leadership and that God will reward their hard work and faithfulness.

Wales

Jason Beynon, PontarddulaisJason was converted back in 1989 in the Elim church in Pontard-dulais, which he has pastored

In our occasional Six Champions series, Chris Cartwright, who

leads Elims South West and Wales Regions, discusses some of

the outstanding churches and leaders there

Meet six of the best in Elim

Above Chris Cartwright

26

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for the last four years. Known affectionately as The Bont, the church has become a beacon of light in this needy community, and Jason and Catherine Bey-non have seen God do amazing things as the church has grown from a dozen or so to over 60 people regularly attending and many more being impacted by the churchs growing ministry. This includes a community living project for former addicts.

Jason is trained as an ac-countant, specialising in com-puterised company systems, and he continues to work in the marketplace as well as leading the church.

Jason and Catherine are great leaders who are taking the church forward with plans to purchase a new building (a former school) which will more adequately house the many ministries that are emerg-ing from this vibrant, growing church.

Malcolm Jones, BreconMalcolm has pastored the Bre-con Elim church for the past 23 years. Being raised in a rural family, the former sheep farmer and horse breeder (and elder brother of Chris Jones, Elims International Missions Director) has led the church through 20 years in rented accommoda-tion and into a brand new 1.5 million multi-purpose church building at the heart of the community.

Malcolm and his wife, Eve-lyne, have an obvious commit-ment to the people of Brecon and a heart for the surrounding community. Their passion is to see the lives of individuals and families being built in the house of God. As a consequence they have developed a great reputa-tion in the area.

The church is poised under their leadership, and with a growing team, to be an influ-ence for fresh mission in this very rural area.

Malcolm JonesJason Beynon

Eric HeylenColin James

Tony MurphyNigel Somers

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How can I get free publicity for my church? If you were offered 30 seconds to tell a stadium full of people about an event in your church, how would you feel?

Once the nerves had sub-sided and you had checked your teeth for spinach, you would hopefully grab the opportunity with both hands. After all, it would be a much quicker way of getting your message out there than printing 30,000 flyers.

The local media offers us such an opportunity, yet it is relatively rare to hear about the positive work that churches up and down the country are doing. Free concerts, soup kitchens and new youth clubs come and go without even a mention in the local rag.

The obstacle for many of us is fear. Our perception of the press has sunk to a new low with many assuming that a jour-nalist is either looking to hack our voicemail or photograph our cellulite with a telephoto lens.

Whilst it is true that the na-tional media is a pretty cutthroat place, the story in local media is generally very different. Along-side the articles about council squabbles and dogs mess, the Biggleswickshire Times or your equivalent is also looking for positive stories of local life.

Of course, if we put ourselves on a pedestal and start com-menting on contentious issues then we will face the same scrutiny that we would expect the paper to give to anyone in a public position. But if we care-fully select the things that we are highlighting then its an amazing opportunity to reach tens of thousands of people with very little time or cost.

As it stands, many churches are working to the local news-papers agenda commenting on contentious things they are asked about, rather than proac-tively highlighting events. The latter gives much more control about the kind of message that is going out and makes it much less likely that we will find our words twisted or misunderstood.

Perhaps you have a celebrity guest speaker, your church is celebrating a milestone, or may-be twins in your congregation are both enjoying their 100th birthday with a party at the church. All of these things are of interest to your local paper and they carry very little risk of a good story being twisted into a bad one.

Even if its not a big story, it might be something that the paper or local media could put into their Whats On guide which is free for good causes.

Elim in Yeovil is one church that has put some extra effort into their media work over the last couple of years. The local paper has covered everything from a charity boxing match in a bouncy castle, to a service celebrating 80 years of the church.

On one occasion the over-flowing church found itself turn-ing away a queue of visitors for a free stand-up gig which had received coverage in local pa-pers and on the BBC Somerset website.

Admittedly, not every event gets such enthusiastic interest but the coverage has undoubt-edly had a positive impact. The reporting has all been positive as well, because the leadership team has carefully chosen which things to publicise.

If fear or lack of experience is putting you off engaging with the media then I would encourage you to give it a go. Last year, I started a free resource for churches with advice on things like spotting a story, selling a story and being interviewed on the radio.

If you want to know more, please visit www.your-churchinthenews.org

Want to get your church event in the news? Former BBC journalist

Robbie Lane explains why its a great way to communicate

Your church can make headlines

Making life work

Whilst it is true that the national media is a pretty cutthroat place, the story in local media is generally very different

AboveRobbie Lane

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