New Life January 2011 issue 203

NEW LIFE

JANUARY 2011 • Issue 203 40p

GOOD NEWS STORIES

IT’S A MIRACLE THAT OUR LITTLE GIRL SURVIVED SAY COUPLE FULL STORY – PAGE 2

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REVEALED: TEEN POP STAR BIEBER’S SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP FULL STORY – PAGE 3

TALKS TO ENCOURAGE MEN TO CHURCH Man returns fiver... 27 years after theft

Firefighter’s saving lives 999 MAN ON MERCY MISSION... EVEN WHEN HE’S NOT AT WORK FIREFIGHTER Keith “Mitch” Mitchell has rescued people from smoke-filled houses and freed them from car crashes. But now the tough emergency does more than rescue – he's "saving" people's lives. Mitch, as he is best known, is the co-fou nder of Crow n Jesus Ministries based in Belfast, one of the most dynamic evangelistic outreaches in Ireland. He said that his own search for God drove him to help others.

desire “As a teenager, I'd wake up many Sundays not with a desire to go to church, but a sore head from the night before,” Mitch said. “I grew up attending church but fell away in my early teens after the death of my father. “I didn’t see how God or church connected with my life. "I was a teenager looking for fun; enjoying nightclubs, drinking alcohol, smoking pot and chasing girls and thought that was what everyone

my age did.” But when he was 19, a friend invited Mitch to visit his church and over the coming weeks he was surprised at what he saw and heard about Jesus. Slowly, the pieces fell into place and Mitch realised the one thing he was missing was actually the last thing he had been looking for – Jesus. After listening to his brother give testimony at a local church and a gospel message by evangelist Roger Carswell, Mitch “prayed a simple prayer inviting Jesus into my life. I have never looked back.” Mitch now works as a part-time firefighter and spends the rest of his time telling others about the Lord through his witty and lifechanging talks. He is especially keen to reach men, who ma ke up on average approximately one third of most congregations. “In some churches there are so few men that when you walk into the gents toilets, they have lavender walls, smell of flowers, have candles and scented toilet paper. You wonder if you have walked into the l Continued on Page 3

LIFESAVER... Keith “Mitch” Mitchell

A FORMER choirboy has returned £5 he stole from a church collection plate more 27 years ago. Jason Boucher, now 40, nicked the fiver from Hereford Cathedral when he was a teenager. H e h a s fe lt g u i lt y about the theft for many years, and decided to do something about it when he rece nt ly beca me a Christian. He wrote a letter of confession to the Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Andrew Priddis, and returned the cash. Jason said: “It’s as if God has been on my case all this time as I’ve always had a conscience about the theft. It’s never too late to put a matter right and I feel a massive burden has been lifted now the money’s been paid back. “I feel the delay was preventing me getting to know God. “I had images of Jesus hanging on the cross and thought he did this for me. Now I want to see what he’s got planned for me after I’ve finally put

FORGIVEN... ex-choirboy Jason Boucher things in order and have been forgiven.” Bishop Priddis, in a written reply to Jason, added: “You knew at the time it was wrong to take the money and clearly this has troubled you at different times in your life for the last 27 years. “God always calls us to new beginnings and he is obviously doing a work in you. Jesus talked about the great joy that there is over ‘one sinner who repents’. “It shows real courage and strength of character to act on that now, after all this time, and I am really delighted that you have done so.”

My faith helped me cope with my abusive husband FULL STORY – CENTRE PAGES

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Gangs target COUPLE PRAYED OVER PREMATURE DAUGHTER’S COMPLICATIONS of Bible team CHURCHES on a notorious Glasgow estate have a new weapon in the battle against gangs – the Bible. Five churches in Easterhouse have teamed up with Bibleworld to reach young people in the deprived area. The mobile church mission is a multi-media experience that includes film, music and interactive exhibits.

Goliath Youngsters can watch a computergenerated movie who is a computer game addict until he watches an animated fight between David and Goliath in Playstation style. The Scottish Bible Society, which runs Bibleworld, says it has helped reach young people in many other communities. Ch ief e xec ut ive, E la i ne Du ncan, said: “We are continuing to promote the Bible as God’s word and to make it available to all.”

it’s a miracle that our baby survived A COUPLE say their Christian faith helped them when their daughter developed problems after being born prematurely.

concerned about Yvon. The consultant arranged for her to be moved there to carefully monitor her condition and to carry out detailed investigations. Ross said: “Even though Yvon was feeding and growing pretty well, there was a Ross and Ellen Ford were delighted to big issue with the bowel because it was discover Ellen was pregnant in February full of trapped air for no apparent reason. 2009. The surgeons were baffled. We were told But when Ellen went into labour two the procedure for this condition was to months early in the September of that insert an ileostomy to help Yvon’s body year, things started to go wrong. get rid of the waste.” “We were in a well-being pregnancy An ileostomy is a surgical opening class at a Sure Start centre in Preston constructed by bringing the end or loop when she started having pains,” rememof small intestine out on to the surface bered Ross. of the skin, “We panicked and rushed over to the “The first operation went well,” Ross GENERAL Sir Richard Dannatt, the hospital where they told us that Ellen’s continued, “and she was in recovery when new president of Y MCA Norfolk waters had broken so it was past the point the worst thing happened – one of the stotook to the streets to highlight the of no return. mas prolapsed and Yvon had to undergo problem of homelessness. “Yvon was born the next day by caesaran emergency second operation. The former head of the British ean section and immediately went into the “Due to the fact she had two general Army was joined by Norfolk High high dependency unit and was placed into anaesthetics within 24 hours she had to go Sheriff Charles Barratt and Judge an incubator.” into intensive care unit for three days. Philip Curl and the trio raised more Despite being a sturdy 3lb 10oz Yvon “At this stage she was very poorly and than £5,000 for the YMCA and other struggled to feed and doctors quickly diswe were both very emotional and felt quite local charities. covered that she had a problem with her alone together. We found encouragement They saw firsthand what police bowel. But Ross, members of his church from our visits to the hospital chapel.” officers and Norfolk Street Pastors and his parents began to pray. Having an ileostomy meant that Yvon get up to on a Saturday night in Ross said: “After that she started feedhad to use a colostomy bag which needed Norwich. ing really well. It was a total change and changing on a daily basis, so lots of adSir R ichard said: “We had an in my mind nothing else can explain it ditional care was required. interesting evening on Prince of but the power of prayer. It was a complete Yvon went home shortly before ChristWales Road, which was absolutely miracle that she started to feed.” mas 2009 and was nursed by Ellen with fascinating. We were with the police After two months in Preston hospital, Ross doing his best around work comand the street pastors, who are doing a visiting consultant from Alder Hey mitments. a fantastic job.” Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, was deeply In April 2010 she had another operation to reverse the ileostomy and put her bowel back together – and she is now a healthy one-year-old. Yvon’s g ra nd mother Ma r y said: “On the special birthday cake I made for the celebration party, I put the words, ‘Thank you Lord for Yvon’ as a mark Please send me �������������������� copies of the ������������������������������������������������� of appreciation for answered (MONTH) prayer.” issue for £ ������������������������������� Ross added: “We’ve all been through a lot and it’s with God’s strength that we’ve managed to f o r j u s t Please send me �������������������� copies as a regular monthly order get to where we are today.”

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OH BABY... Ross and Ellen Ford celebrate with Yvon on her first birthday. Inset, Yvon in her incubator unit

A WOMAN has astounded medical experts after her bladder, which had lost the ability to f u nct ion a fter su rger y, regained normal use. Crystal Caro, from Nashville, Tennessee, was told there was “no medical explanation” after she started using the bathroom normally. Crystal believes God performed a miracle when she was prayed for at the Bay of the Holy Spirit Revival in Mobile, Alabama. She said: “I had a giant tumour on my back and through radiation treatment my bladder was destroyed and I had to have part of it removed. I couldn’t use the bathroom normally and was in great pain. “My bladder stopped holding anything and I would go to the bathroom all over myself. The doctors took out part of my

STORY TO TELL... Crystal Caro talks to Nathan Morris, left, about her miracle healing intestine and made a bladder with it which meant I had to use a urostomy bag for the rest of my life, as well as taking medical supplies.” But Crystal’s life was about to turn around as she visited the revival, being led by British evangelist Nathan Morris

a nd A me r ica n pastor Joh n Kilpatrick. She added: “Nathan Morris prayed for me and I felt heat go through my stomach. The heat was there as I drove home and I told God that he knit me together the first time, so he could do it again! “I immediately tried to use t he bat h room but not h i ng happened, but when I tried again the next day I went to the bathroom and realised it was working normally and it’s been fine ever since! The doctors are blown away!” A report from Crystal’s doctor, Professor Arnold Malcolm, of Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, explained the process Crystal had gone through. Prof Malcom added: “There is no medical explanation for Crystal’s augmented bladder to have regained full function.”

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Issue 203 • NEW LIFE 3 NEW LIFE

Owl’s that? NOTORIOUS HACK TURNED BACK ON BIG SCOOPS Star covers fave hymn! THE brains behind pop sensation Owl City has released a cover of a modern hymn. Adam Young, whose debut UK single Fireflies hit No1 in the charts last year, has recorded In Christ Alone because it deeply moves him. O n h i s b lo g , Yo u n g s a i d it wasn’t for any particular album or project. He wrote: “Something about this song makes me bawl like a baby. “If I were to count on one hand the number of songs t h at h a v e e v e r deeply moved me, t h i s one wou ld take the cake. I pr oba bly spe nt more time actually crying at the piano than I did recording it. Such are the secret confessions of a shy boy from Minnesota. “As I’m so oft e n r e m i n d e d Adam Young what a priceless gift my life is, I ache with everything in me to make it count, so that when I finally cross the finish line, I’ll hear the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’” Young also noted that the spiritual meat of the song is not intended to be “crammed down the throat”. “That is not my intention. This is what I wholeheartedly believe, and to that belief, I remain steadfast until he [Christ] returns or calls me home,” he added.

‘Take Bible to the pub’

CHURCHES are being urged to take Bibles into pubs to help people rediscover God's word. The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Rev Paul Butler, wants copies of the book to be taken to public venues to highlight the Bible’s place in our culture. He said: “This year we celebrate 400 years of the King James Authorised Version. So for me this is a sort of launch of 2011 Year of the Bible, and I will be celebrating the Bible everywhere I go in the coming year. "I’m also encouraging all our clergy to consider raising knowledge, reading and use of the Bible by all our church members, as well as publicly reading and celebrating the Bible in imaginative and creative ways in our communities.” According to a new survey, 51 per cent of under-35s have never heard of the King James Bible, and yet it has been described as a work that was far more influential than Shakespeare in the development and spread of the English language.

That’s appt!

A N i Phone Bible app h a s bee n downloaded more than ten million times. Bosses of the YouVersion application are challenging their worldwide users to spend one billion minutes reading the Bible during January. “As thrilled as we are with what God has done so far, we’re confident that he wants to do much, much more to help people fall in love with his Word,” said Bobby Gruenewald, i n novat ion leade r at w w w.l i fe church.tv

now my life’s made of the write stuff! SHE was the journalist who gate crashed Hollywood parties and sneaked on to the guest list of celebrity weddings.

Marlise Kast wrangled her way into the home of Star Trek legend, Wi lliam Shatner, by pretendi ng to be a drunk, and borrowed her neighbour’s cat so she could spy on actress Jodi Foster. Marlise, 35, also set up home next door to Titanic star Leonardo di Caprio, just to write about his alleged love life. In fact, the pastor’s daughter was so successful at getting into where no journalist should ever be, the CIA even tried to recruit her as one of their agents. Her daredevil escapades earned Marlise front page exclusives and the nickname, Tabloid Prodigy – but also brought her near to a mental and spiritual breakdown. Tired of scamming scoops and chasing yet more lurid headlines, Marlise started to hate the job she

JUSTIN TIME... Pop star Justin Bieber

DAREDEVIL... Marlise Kast had made her own. One day, unable to face another sleepless night crying into her pillow, she flipped opened her dust-covered Bible which she had long ago thrown under her bed, and read the following lines: “What I feared has come upon me, what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest, only turmoil.” The following morning, Marlise Elizabeth Kast, one of the most talented and feared tabloid journalists in America, handed in her resignation. “I believe it was the best

writing I ever did at the tabloids,” she smiled. “I had come to the point where it was God or nothing else.” As the pressure from editors for bigger and bigger scoops increased, Marlise had used a combination of her good looks, charm and brains to invent even more bizarre disguises. Soon she had a network of contacts including waiters, bouncers and bartenders who she paid £5,000 a time for hot tip-offs about a celebrity’s personal or love life. But deep inside, Marlise says she knew right from wrong. Her parents were devout Christians with a long family history of missionary work. They disapproved of her career but never cut her off and told her they were praying for their daughter to get out of the industry. “For years, I’d pushed aside my family, my friends and my faith,” Marlise added. “I threw aside anything which made me feel uneasy about chasing a story. I was like a drug addict, only I was hooked on headlines instead of cocaine.”

I’m here because of Jesus

TEEN pop sensation Justin Bieber has made it clear why he’s here – because of Jesus. The 16-yea r-old has topped charts around the world, including the UK, with his singles and albums and is adored by millions of fans worldwide. And the Canadian star says that although people have talked about him being religious, one thing is for sure – he has a relationship with Christ. In an interview for Associated Press, the star – who was first discovered on YouTube – says that although Hollywood is a ‘scary place’, there was a lot of good things in the world’s movie capital. He said: “There’s a lot going on. There’s a lot of bad things, but there’s also a lot of good things. I’m able to live my dream.” The teenage heart-throb then moved on to his faith when asked about whether he was religious. “I’m a Christian, I believe in God,” Beiber continued. “I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins. I believe that I have a relationship and I’m able to talk to him. He’s the reason I’m here, so I definitely have to remember that.” Bieber has joined female pop star Miley Cyrus as a Christian music leader who young people look up to and who have a clean image for them to follow. In an interview earlier this year Cyrus said: “Jesus is who saved me. He’s what keeps me full and whole.”

Years of lies, deceit and endless pressure had left Hollywood’s hottest hack stressed and broken. Marlise revealed her thoughts about quitting to her sister Heidi, who suggested she read her Bible which had once been a big part of her upbringing but had lain unopened for years. “I’d been raised in a Christian faith yet I hadn’t prayed or been to church for a very long time, so the soil had gone dry,” says Marlise. “I felt I had a talent for doing something that I shouldn’t be good at. I had taken God’s gift and used it for my own glory. “That night, I made a complete surrender to Jesus. He came to me where I was, and accepted me as I was. For the first time in a long time, I felt peace and a love come over me that was indescribable.” After quitting the tabloids, Marlise began writing about her other great passion, travel. She has publ ished t wo bestselling guides and also writes about surfing and snowboarding for a number of magazines.

God helped me after life selling body A FORMER prostitute has told how God helped her leave her troubled past behind – and pick up a university degree. Maria Landon joined hundreds of graduates at the award ceremony in Norwich Cathedral. As she collected her BA Hons in English Literature and Cultural Studies, Maria said: “I know we do not all need to obtain graduations to become acceptable in this world but, for me, the girl who was born to be a prostitute, this was a wonderful day of celebration. It is amazing how God has brought me this far.” Ma r ia was on ly 14 when her mother walked out and her father forced her to become a prostitute in Norwich’s red light district. She told her amazing story in her book Daddy’s Little Earner and a follow up, Escaping Daddy, where she spoke about her healing journey and the steps she took to recovery.

Saving lives

● Continued from Page 1 wrong toilet,” he laughed. “I am not putting down the important role of women in the Church but we need men to be men, who will take up responsibility and become the leaders God has called them to be. “A lot of young guys today don’t have any positive role models. They sleep around, fathering kids but not taking any responsibility. They spend hours in their rooms playing the latest computer gadget or watching pornography on the Internet. “When I read the Bible and see how Jesus changed the lives of fishermen, tax collectors and even enemies of the Church I have no doubt he can do the same again today.”

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4 NEW LIFE •Issue 203

THOUSANDS TO FLOCK TO GOSPEL EVENTS THOUSANDS of people in counties across the world are attending events in football stadiums held by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to tell people about Jesus. Around 14,300 people attended the three-day Celebracion de Esperanza (Celebration of Hope) in Las Piedras, Uruguay in October. “I am continually humbled when I have the opportunity to get up in front of people and share the good news of the gospel,” said Will Graham, grandson of international evangelist Billy Graham. “The barriers of culture and language fall away as people recognise their need for Christ

in their lives.” The event, held in the 3,000-seat Estadio Municipal Juventus soccer stadium, saw an average attendance of 3,575 during the four meetings with a total attendance of 14,300. More than 1,720 responded to the invitation to make a commitment to Jesus. Meanwhile, keeping it in the family, Franklin Graham, eldest son of Billy Graham was in Latvia, heading up the Festival of Hope event in the European city. Over 3,000 people made commitments to Christ during the event, when Franklin preached about the biblical story of Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke and the story of the rich young ruler in the

Gospel of Mark in the capital city, Riga. He told thousands of people that everyone faces problems, but that only God can solve the problem of sin. “Only Jesus Christ can solve the problems of the human heart,” Graham told the massed crowd. During a press conference in Latvia ahead of the festival, Graham said that every country was different but that the human heart remains the same. He said: “People, regardless of where they live, ask the question ‘Is there a God?’I want the people of Latvia to know that God knows their name and loves each and every one, and that Christ died for our sins.”

GOLDEN GRAHAMS... Will Graham, grandson of Billy, inset

MOVIE ACTOR REVEALS HIS DAILY INSPIRATION

how bible is josh the job for star! HOLLYWOOD film star Denzel Washington has spoken of his Christian faith and how he is inspired by the Bible.

The Oscar-winning star of Training Day said in an interview in the Daily Mail: “I read the Bible every day – the Book of Joshua absolutely inspires me.” Washington’s films have grossed a staggering $3bn worldwide, and include such blockbusters as The Pelican Brief, Crimson Tide and American Gangster. Washington went on to talk about his upbringing by his father, who was a Pentecostal preacher. He said: “It was nothing special – just a hard-working family. My father worked all the time and he preached at weekends. In my generation nobody saw their father. That’s how life was. He encouraged us to go to high school and then get a job. My mother wanted us to go to college. She wanted more for us.” He said that the strongest influences in his life were his parents’ work ethic and his father’s church. “It was the religious instruction which supported me,” he said. “Sure I went to church. We went every Sunday – sometimes during the week as well.” And his thoughts on wealth are inspired by something a pastor once said. “My religious instruction has taught me that money doesn’t buy happiness,” he explained. “I once heard a pastor say, ‘You’ll never see a removal van behind a hearse – you can’t take it with you.’ “So what you have and where you’ve been doesn’t help in terms of who you are. The question I’m interested in is, ‘Who have you helped?’”

ship of Evangelical Students and international deputy director for the Lausanne movement, revealed the statistic. Even though Africa does not have money or technology, he said Africans could celebrate because God’s grace has been poured out on the continent. The Rev Gideon ParaMallam of Nigeria, the international

Charity helps disaster area INDONESIA – Ch ristia n Cha rit y Barnabas is appealing for help in Indonesia, a nation rocked by a series of natural disasters. The mainly Christian islands of Mentawai, have been severely affected by an earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption in October. Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said: “Once again Indonesia is afflicted by natural disasters hav ing not long recovered from the devastating tsunami of 2004 and more recent earthquakes. Barnabas Fund was on the frontline of previous aid efforts to help Christians affected; will you help us to do likewise now?”

Jesus statue is uncovered

POLAND – A giant statue of Jesus has been completed in Swiebodzin, western Poland. The statue is 33m tall – one metre for each year Jesus lived – but rises to 51m high when the large mound it sits on is included. Local officials say it is the tallest statue of Jesus in the world. Comparisons have been made with the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which rises 38m, and the Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, which is just over 40m tall. The Polish statue shows Jesus with his arms outstretched and has a golden crown that adorns his head.

Translators raise $250m

USA – The world’s la rgest Bible translation organisation, Wycliffe, has raised nearly $250m for the campaign to translate the Bible into every language by 2025. “To raise nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in two years is impressive even in a booming economy,” said Bob Creson, Wycliffe USA president and CEO. “In the current climate, it’s nothing short of miraculous. “We are so grateful to God and our supporters who partner with us to make sure that all people have access to the Bible in the language and form that is most meaningful to them.”

INSPIRED... Film star Denzel Washington has revealed his favourite book of the Bible

Congress hears of rapid growth of church in Africa THE African church has grow n 3,000 per cent in the last century, it has been claimed. Leaders from more than 190 nations gathered in Cape Town, South Africa, for The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation in November. Daniel Bourdanne, general secretary of the International Fellow-

WORLD NEWS ROUND-UP

deputy director for English, Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Africa, invited western Christian leaders at the conference to stand up and asked Africans to applaud them, for the sacrifices western missionaries had made in bringing the gospel to the continent. “As a result of their obedience, G od has been at work i n A fr i-

ca,” said Para-Mallam. “Africa has moved from a missionary-receiving continent in 1910, to a hundred years later, a missionary-sending continent. Missionaries will be leaving Africa to Europe, from Africa to the United States of America, from Africa to all over the world. “The church in Africa is the church of the future.”

Missionary is remembered

M OZ A M B IQ U E – A m a n w hos e grandfather killed five missionaries in 1956 in Ecuador attended the dedication of a house named after one of the murdered missionaries recently. Gilberto Nenquimo, who is now a Christian pastor, was among the 250 people who attended the official unveiling of the Nate Saint house. Chris Nevins who oversaw the construction project said: “This house represents a powerful story that has inspired and encouraged so many people in missions. “ We know that God didn’t want this story to just go away.”

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Preacher ditches retirement to work with young people

BACK TO WORK... Ernie Jones with wife Frances

A PREACHER has come out of retirement to try to convert young people to Christianity. Ernie Jones, 70, is working with about 40 youngsters who have started attended his church, Tyldesley Top Chapel, near Manchester. The pensioner retired five years ago, but is now back behind the pulpit preaching. He said: “God definitely has a sense of humour. When the eldership asked me to come into the church I didn’t really want to do it. But they were struggling so I agreed to come in temporarily and it’s ended up being permanent. “One Sunday night we had about 40 teenagers come in, but I’d been

involved in running a children’s home for 20 years, so I knew a lot about youth. I told them where I stood and laid down some rules and they were fine. “We even had a visit from the police asking us if we were okay because these kids had caused them so much trouble! I told them we didn’t have any trouble from them. And that we just preach the gospel, feed them and get to know them.” Ernie has converted the church basement into a lounge/restaurant area so that after each service the youngsters are fed and they also have the opportunity to talk through life issues such as drugs, sex and abortion.

Ex-addict to FORMER MOTOR TRADER BOSS SAYS FINDING GOD WAS A RELIEF tell pupils of drug danger A FORMER heroin addict is launching a campaign in schools to educate youngsters about the dangers of drugs. Addict turned preacher Barry Woodward, whose own life story was chronicled in his autobiography, ‘Once an Addict’, launched the Campaign 2 Educate (C2E) Schools Project in November in Manchester. This year, he hopes to take the campaign nationwide. He said: “Our aim is to teach thousands and thousands of teenagers about the dangers of drugs and what the Christian view point is – like what does God think and what does the Bible say about abusing our bodies?” The C2E Schools Project is being rolled out in two phases. The first will focus on the 160 schools in Greater Manchester and the second phase will involve rolling it out in the remaining 4,800-plus schools throughout the UK. Barry worked with an RS teacher for ten months to produce the resource, which can be used as part of the RS syllabus. The resource is used alongside a DVD, which tells Barry’s story. He added: “We’re really excited about it. We contact the schools and send them a sample lesson plan. Our plan is to get this into every school in Manchester then go nationwide. It isn’t exclusive to schools. It can be used in churches and youth groups too.”

Looking after the pennies... A CHURCH congregation is setting aside a penny a day for the next year to help the world’s poor. The Penny Prayer Challenge encourages people to think about the causes of poverty every time they put the penny in a pot. Church manager at Purley Baptist Church, Kevin Abronson, said: “Over a year, each person would have saved £3.65 and while it is easy to write a cheque for that amount, the purpose is to encourage people to daily remember the poor. “This initiative will not only be a means of raising funds for those with the greatest needs, but will more importantly help develop daily disciples who are praying for those with the greatest needs in the world.”

i know my life’s in top gear now BARRIE Townsend spent a quarter of a century wondering whether God existed – then found him on a holiday caravan site.

The former motor trade executive first encountered the gospel message shortly after leaving school. At an evening event in his old school building, a local, once notorious young troublemaker shared about how his life had changed since becoming a Christian. The meeting made a huge impact on Barrie at the time, but it took another 25 years for him to find out more about the faith. From an early age, Barrie, originally from Kent, had an interest in the motor trade. Working his way up the corporate ladder, he held a number of senior executive posts in his 43 years in the industry. “As I got married and had a family I was happy enough, but there was always a sense of something missing,” he said. “My career was moving well and I really enjoyed my work. At the back of my mind, I sometimes thought about God and what life was all about, but just as quickly, I would push that idea away.” It was in his 30s that Barrie had a second encounter with God as a serious illness took its toll. He found himself sharing a hospital ward with a man who had a similar condition. Yet, while Barrie was depressed, the other guy had a peace about him. “He was a Christian and there was something in his attitude that really affected me. It was hard to put my finger on it, but it made him stand

GEARED UP... Barrie Townsend

out from any other patient in that hospital,” explains Barrie. Yet, once again, the young executive pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind, wrapped up in his own small world. It was when Barrie and wife Marie took up caravanning that God finally broke through. In his early 40s, Barrie finally asked Jesus into his life after meeting the operators of a caravan park in the Quantock Hills in Somerset, where the family had arranged to stay. They became instant friends. “It wasn’t so much what they said, it was more how they treated us,” said Barrie. “They couldn’t do enough to help us. Their attitude was of genuine, unconditional love, which was not just for show. I went to their church, and the sheer joy just overwhelmed me.” In fact, he felt such joy at finally coming to faith that for years the family made a weekly round trip of

216 miles to attend the local church and be part of that community where they felt so accepted. Barrie’s wife, Marie, had become a Christian some years earlier and had been praying for him to “come through” to faith. “More than anything, when I became a Christian, I felt a tremendous sense of relief,” says Barrie, now 63. “For years, I now recognise that God had been calling me and, while I had not consciously resisted, you could say I didn’t positively respond either. “God planted little seeds throughout my life,” says Barrie. “First the testimonies of those changed lives at my former school, then the encounter with the Christian in hospital. Finally, I came to know Jesus on a caravan holiday.” Today Barrie lives in Exeter and is part of Riverside Assemblies of God Church.

All change for bus outreach project A CUMBRIAN church is hitting the road to serve the local community. A £60,000 bus owned by St Paul’s Church in Hawcoat will tour towns and villages as part of a new outreach

project. The church has also opened a new entrance and cafe area where people can drop by. Bishop James Newcome of Carlisle dedicated the blue and yellow single-

decker bus at a special ceremony. He said: “We pray for opportunities to use the bus in ways that serve the community of Barrow and bring glory to God.”

Car salesman who is now a driving force!

The motor trade can be ruthless, and Barrie Townsend had few qualms about stepping on other people to get ahead. But when he became a Christian the change in his life was dramatic, sparking a real transformation in his management style – instead of simply using people he actively sought to serve the needs of his staff, to encourage, release and inspire them. And he found greater success in business as a result. So much so that after time spent searching for God’s will, Barrie and colleagues Frank Bennett and Terry Sanford set up Crosslink Ministries, an organisation fostering servant-based leadership and management. Crosslink Ministries aims “to bring maximum glory to God in the marketplace” through business networks with Christian principles. Launched in Exeter, they have now expanded to Taunton and hope to open in Plymouth. And now, through Crosslink Academy, Barrie teaches the principles of servant-based leadership and management to others in church and business life. ● See Page 8 for more details

NEW LIFE THE Rev Tom Donn has celebrated his 103rd birthday – and made the record books as Scotland’s longest-ordained minister of the Church of Scotland.

NEWSFLASH

6

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NEW LIFE • Issue 203 NEW LIFE

NEW LIFE www.newlife.co.uk

WORKING together to bring you the good news

tune in New Life works in partnership with UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) who are now broadcasting nationally on DAB radio. For great Christian music, discussion, chat, regular news bulletins and lots of fun, UCB is great, contemporary radio for the whole family. Listen on DAB radio across the UK or online at www.ucbmedia.co.uk

explore christianity We’re also working with Alpha, the course that ­allows people to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought­provoking weekly sessions. The courses are free and are usually run in the evening, and include a meal or refreshments. To find a course near you, see www.alpha.org

Find a church We’re also working with Find a Church, who run a brilliant website listing the details of more than 42,000 UK Christian churches. Simply tap in your postcode for help to find a great church in your area.

the BIBLE MATTERS The Gideons are well known for their work distributing Bibles to schools, hospitals, hotels etc. If you want Jesus to make himself real in your life, and don’t have a Bible, The Gideons will be happy to provide you with a Testament completely free of charge.

The ABC of how you can become a Christian...

A Admit that you have done wrong that Jesus died so that you can B Believe be forgiven, and ask God to forgive you The Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23).

C

‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16); ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us’ (1 John 1:9).

Commit yourself to living God’s way Jesus said, ‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12). Log on to www.lookingforgod.com for more help.

FREE

FOR EVERY READER DAILY INSPIRATIONAL BOOK call 0845 6040401 or log on to www.ucb.co.uk

Issue 203 •

NEW LIFE NEW LIFE

WOMAN NEVER LOST FAITH DESPITE BEATINGS AND RAPE IN AN ABUSIVE MARRIAGE

If I didn’t have God then I don’t know what would have happened

SUCCESSFUL... rather than allow anger eat him up, Robert Hicks found hope and love after reading the Bible

Coralita Martin had no idea that she would end up living a life of hell after getting married. But she knew God was always with her. Becky Barlow spoke to her about her faith

F

IFTEEN years ago, a knock on the door changed Coralita Martin’s life forever.

It was the police with the news that her husband was dead. But rather than feel sad, Coralita’s reaction was one of relief because she was finally free from the tyrant who had ruled her life for the past 30 years. At the age of 77, Coralita Martin has been through so much unimaginable cruelty that it is hard to equate the soft speaking woman telling her story now, to the woman she talks about. Stuck in a marriage to a man who tried to k ill her, Coralita literally fought for her life and, despite her turbulent marriage, managed to make it as one of the first black teachers in London and Norfolk and became well respected and loved by teachers, parents and pupils. Her story sounds like something out of a Hollywood film and is both harrowing and inspirational, but her life is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit coupled with the power of God in a person’s life. Coralita’s story begins in Antigua, 77 years ago, when life was very different. Rejected by her mother at just ten days old, Coralita was brought up by her godmother, a godly woman who took her to church every Sunday. “She instilled in me a solid foundation in God,” remembers Coralita. “Whether it was knocked this way or that, it could not be rocked. Rather, it would grow like a strong oak tree during the harsh years of suffering that followed.” Despite living in abject poverty, Coralita loved going to school and was quickly identified as being bright. She dreamed of becoming a teacher and, at the age of 11, she passed the exam for the prestigious Antigua Girls High School, only for her dream to be cruelly snatched away when she was told that she was too poor to go. “My path was barred,” she said. “My dreams of teaching were halted.” Rather than give up, Coralita tried harder and, at the age of 15, won a scholarship to the Tor Memorial High School. But it was four years later that she had an experience that really changed her life – when renowned evangelist Billy Graham came to town. “I remember him saying that Jesus could change my life,” she said. “I went to the front and my heartfelt sorrow for the past became a clean slate for the future. I was never the same again. “It wasn’t a good life financially or materially. I still went hungry, but spiritually, I realised I could have such peace. When anything went wrong, I knew that I could always call on Jesus and that changed my life. Even now, after all these years, he’s still here.” Coralita secured a job as a teacher and it seemed that everything was going her way, until one day in 1955, when a chance meeting changed the path of her life in a way that she could not have foreseen. “Living and working for God was all I wanted to do, seven days a week,” she

WOMAN OF FAITH... Coralita Martin. Inset, Coralita at the age of 12 remembered. “Every Saturday, I would give out tracts as part of an outreach. That’s where I met Royston. I asked him to come to church and he said that he would but that he was coming to get me. I didn’t know what he meant but that Sunday morning, he burst into my little shack and just ravaged me. I tried everything to fight him off but he raped me and then he just left.”

D

evastated and ashamed, with no one to turn to, Coralita kept the terrible secret of the attack to herself. But Royston was just getting started. He would turn up at all hours and the attacks would continue. “I couldn’t tell anyone because I was so scared and then I got pregnant,” she said. “He said that I had to marry him or have an abortion. By then I’d fulfilled my dream of becoming a teacher and back then you couldn’t be a teacher and have an illegitimate child. Abortion was out of the question because of my beliefs, so I felt like I had no other choice but to marry him.”

After that her life got steadily worse until Royston moved to the UK. Finally free of the husband who terrorised her, Coralita settled into her teaching job until one day a letter arrived. “It said if I didn’t join him in England with our three children, he would come back and kill me,” remembered Coralita. “I didn’t have a choice.” So in 1960, she boarded a sh ip headed for Southampton and a country she knew nothing about. “The biggest shock was when I got off the boat,” she said. “Royston had told me that he had a place for us. I’d never seen anything so filthy in all my life. I had to make a bed on the floor for the children to sleep on and it was filthy.

HEART “Going to church was out of the question because he wouldn’t let me, but when God’s Word is in your heart and mind, nobody can take that away from you. “One verse that kept me going was

❛

I forgave him for every terrible deed and despicable act. I forgave him as Jesus my Saviour forgave me

Jeremiah 29:11, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ I clung to that verse and it kept me going.”

A

fter five years of living in the UK, Coralita secured her first job as a teacher at her daughter’s primary school. Then a number of years later, when the laws changed, she started teacher training college. But at home, the abuse continued. “I ended up in hospital,” she remembered. “Because of the bad treatment I’d decided that I couldn’t stay in the house any more so I moved out into a squat. A friend of mine would let us use her house for a bath and give us meals. “The morning of my final teacher

training exam, I was walking down the street and he appeared from nowhere and attacked me with a brick. In 1974, Royston was sent to prison for his attack against me. I gave evidence at the Old Bailey and he was given three years.” Grasping her chance of freedom with both hands, Coralita moved away, changed her name and got a divorce. With the rape being mentioned in the trial she wanted to live somewhere where she could live an anonymous life.

PRISON She threw herself into her work and became the first black teacher in Thetford, Norfolk. Coralita quickly won the respect of teachers and pupils alike. Life seemed good – until Royston was released from prison.

❜

“He got out and went round to my daughter’s friend’s house saying that he wanted to reconcile and how sorry he was and she told him where I lived,” she explained. “He showed up and said that if I didn’t remarry him, he would tell my head teacher that the children were illegitimate. Fear clouded my judgement so I agreed. It was the worst decision of my life.”

T

hings went from bad to worse in Coralita’s personal life until Royston was arrested again. “He broke into the house and attacked with a bottle my son’s friend who was staying over,” she said. “The police arrested him and he had a 12 inch knife that he was going to use to kill me.” Royston persuaded her to stand up

for him in court, promising that he would return to Antigua if he was set free. So Coralita begged the court for leniency and he was set free. Incredibly, she was able to forgive him for the years of abuse. She said: “I forgave him for every terrible deed and despicable act. I forgave him as Jesus my Saviour forgave me for all my wrongs when he died on the cross. It was the only way to freedom from this giant of a man who had warred against my soul for 30 years.”

pray But Royston didn’t go back to Antigua. Despite Coralita taking out an injunction against him, he began to stalk her. “Every where I went, he was there,” she remembered. “Every time I saw h im, my nerves went. I continued to pray for an end to Royston’s torment.” As her private life spiralled, her career took off. She worked in some of the country’s most prestigious schools,

teaching the children of doctors and lawyers. But always in the back of her mind was the fear of another attack from her estranged husband. But 15 years ago, came the knock at the door as the police told her, “He is dead.” He had committed suicide outside one of the schools where she had taught. “Those words breathed relief into my soul,” she remembered. “Relief that he couldn’t hurt me any more. “People ask me how I coped through those years. If I didn’t have God with me I don’t know what would have happened. I could call on him any time. No matter what happened, he was faithful.” Coralita continued teaching until the age of 70 and now attends the Church on the Way in Thetford. Her autobiography, ‘Courage To Dream – The Impossible Becomes Reality’ is available from Waterstones. ● For information about the book, visit www.lastwordpublications.com

7

6

LOG ON NOW: www.newlife.co.uk

NEW LIFE • Issue 203 NEW LIFE

NEW LIFE www.newlife.co.uk

WORKING together to bring you the good news

tune in New Life works in partnership with UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) who are now broadcasting nationally on DAB radio. For great Christian music, discussion, chat, regular news bulletins and lots of fun, UCB is great, contemporary radio for the whole family. Listen on DAB radio across the UK or online at www.ucbmedia.co.uk

explore christianity We’re also working with Alpha, the course that ­allows people to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought­provoking weekly sessions. The courses are free and are usually run in the evening, and include a meal or refreshments. To find a course near you, see www.alpha.org

Find a church We’re also working with Find a Church, who run a brilliant website listing the details of more than 42,000 UK Christian churches. Simply tap in your postcode for help to find a great church in your area.

the BIBLE MATTERS The Gideons are well known for their work distributing Bibles to schools, hospitals, hotels etc. If you want Jesus to make himself real in your life, and don’t have a Bible, The Gideons will be happy to provide you with a Testament completely free of charge.

The ABC of how you can become a Christian...

A Admit that you have done wrong that Jesus died so that you can B Believe be forgiven, and ask God to forgive you The Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23).

C

‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16); ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us’ (1 John 1:9).

Commit yourself to living God’s way Jesus said, ‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12). Log on to www.lookingforgod.com for more help.

FREE

FOR EVERY READER DAILY INSPIRATIONAL BOOK call 0845 6040401 or log on to www.ucb.co.uk

Issue 203 •

NEW LIFE NEW LIFE

WOMAN NEVER LOST FAITH DESPITE BEATINGS AND RAPE IN AN ABUSIVE MARRIAGE

If I didn’t have God then I don’t know what would have happened

SUCCESSFUL... rather than allow anger eat him up, Robert Hicks found hope and love after reading the Bible

Coralita Martin had no idea that she would end up living a life of hell after getting married. But she knew God was always with her. Becky Barlow spoke to her about her faith

F

IFTEEN years ago, a knock on the door changed Coralita Martin’s life forever.

It was the police with the news that her husband was dead. But rather than feel sad, Coralita’s reaction was one of relief because she was finally free from the tyrant who had ruled her life for the past 30 years. At the age of 77, Coralita Martin has been through so much unimaginable cruelty that it is hard to equate the soft speaking woman telling her story now, to the woman she talks about. Stuck in a marriage to a man who tried to k ill her, Coralita literally fought for her life and, despite her turbulent marriage, managed to make it as one of the first black teachers in London and Norfolk and became well respected and loved by teachers, parents and pupils. Her story sounds like something out of a Hollywood film and is both harrowing and inspirational, but her life is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit coupled with the power of God in a person’s life. Coralita’s story begins in Antigua, 77 years ago, when life was very different. Rejected by her mother at just ten days old, Coralita was brought up by her godmother, a godly woman who took her to church every Sunday. “She instilled in me a solid foundation in God,” remembers Coralita. “Whether it was knocked this way or that, it could not be rocked. Rather, it would grow like a strong oak tree during the harsh years of suffering that followed.” Despite living in abject poverty, Coralita loved going to school and was quickly identified as being bright. She dreamed of becoming a teacher and, at the age of 11, she passed the exam for the prestigious Antigua Girls High School, only for her dream to be cruelly snatched away when she was told that she was too poor to go. “My path was barred,” she said. “My dreams of teaching were halted.” Rather than give up, Coralita tried harder and, at the age of 15, won a scholarship to the Tor Memorial High School. But it was four years later that she had an experience that really changed her life – when renowned evangelist Billy Graham came to town. “I remember him saying that Jesus could change my life,” she said. “I went to the front and my heartfelt sorrow for the past became a clean slate for the future. I was never the same again. “It wasn’t a good life financially or materially. I still went hungry, but spiritually, I realised I could have such peace. When anything went wrong, I knew that I could always call on Jesus and that changed my life. Even now, after all these years, he’s still here.” Coralita secured a job as a teacher and it seemed that everything was going her way, until one day in 1955, when a chance meeting changed the path of her life in a way that she could not have foreseen. “Living and working for God was all I wanted to do, seven days a week,” she

WOMAN OF FAITH... Coralita Martin. Inset, Coralita at the age of 12 remembered. “Every Saturday, I would give out tracts as part of an outreach. That’s where I met Royston. I asked him to come to church and he said that he would but that he was coming to get me. I didn’t know what he meant but that Sunday morning, he burst into my little shack and just ravaged me. I tried everything to fight him off but he raped me and then he just left.”

D

evastated and ashamed, with no one to turn to, Coralita kept the terrible secret of the attack to herself. But Royston was just getting started. He would turn up at all hours and the attacks would continue. “I couldn’t tell anyone because I was so scared and then I got pregnant,” she said. “He said that I had to marry him or have an abortion. By then I’d fulfilled my dream of becoming a teacher and back then you couldn’t be a teacher and have an illegitimate child. Abortion was out of the question because of my beliefs, so I felt like I had no other choice but to marry him.”

After that her life got steadily worse until Royston moved to the UK. Finally free of the husband who terrorised her, Coralita settled into her teaching job until one day a letter arrived. “It said if I didn’t join him in England with our three children, he would come back and kill me,” remembered Coralita. “I didn’t have a choice.” So in 1960, she boarded a sh ip headed for Southampton and a country she knew nothing about. “The biggest shock was when I got off the boat,” she said. “Royston had told me that he had a place for us. I’d never seen anything so filthy in all my life. I had to make a bed on the floor for the children to sleep on and it was filthy.

HEART “Going to church was out of the question because he wouldn’t let me, but when God’s Word is in your heart and mind, nobody can take that away from you. “One verse that kept me going was

❛

I forgave him for every terrible deed and despicable act. I forgave him as Jesus my Saviour forgave me

Jeremiah 29:11, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ I clung to that verse and it kept me going.”

A

fter five years of living in the UK, Coralita secured her first job as a teacher at her daughter’s primary school. Then a number of years later, when the laws changed, she started teacher training college. But at home, the abuse continued. “I ended up in hospital,” she remembered. “Because of the bad treatment I’d decided that I couldn’t stay in the house any more so I moved out into a squat. A friend of mine would let us use her house for a bath and give us meals. “The morning of my final teacher

training exam, I was walking down the street and he appeared from nowhere and attacked me with a brick. In 1974, Royston was sent to prison for his attack against me. I gave evidence at the Old Bailey and he was given three years.” Grasping her chance of freedom with both hands, Coralita moved away, changed her name and got a divorce. With the rape being mentioned in the trial she wanted to live somewhere where she could live an anonymous life.

PRISON She threw herself into her work and became the first black teacher in Thetford, Norfolk. Coralita quickly won the respect of teachers and pupils alike. Life seemed good – until Royston was released from prison.

❜

“He got out and went round to my daughter’s friend’s house saying that he wanted to reconcile and how sorry he was and she told him where I lived,” she explained. “He showed up and said that if I didn’t remarry him, he would tell my head teacher that the children were illegitimate. Fear clouded my judgement so I agreed. It was the worst decision of my life.”

T

hings went from bad to worse in Coralita’s personal life until Royston was arrested again. “He broke into the house and attacked with a bottle my son’s friend who was staying over,” she said. “The police arrested him and he had a 12 inch knife that he was going to use to kill me.” Royston persuaded her to stand up

for him in court, promising that he would return to Antigua if he was set free. So Coralita begged the court for leniency and he was set free. Incredibly, she was able to forgive him for the years of abuse. She said: “I forgave him for every terrible deed and despicable act. I forgave him as Jesus my Saviour forgave me for all my wrongs when he died on the cross. It was the only way to freedom from this giant of a man who had warred against my soul for 30 years.”

pray But Royston didn’t go back to Antigua. Despite Coralita taking out an injunction against him, he began to stalk her. “Every where I went, he was there,” she remembered. “Every time I saw h im, my nerves went. I continued to pray for an end to Royston’s torment.” As her private life spiralled, her career took off. She worked in some of the country’s most prestigious schools,

teaching the children of doctors and lawyers. But always in the back of her mind was the fear of another attack from her estranged husband. But 15 years ago, came the knock at the door as the police told her, “He is dead.” He had committed suicide outside one of the schools where she had taught. “Those words breathed relief into my soul,” she remembered. “Relief that he couldn’t hurt me any more. “People ask me how I coped through those years. If I didn’t have God with me I don’t know what would have happened. I could call on him any time. No matter what happened, he was faithful.” Coralita continued teaching until the age of 70 and now attends the Church on the Way in Thetford. Her autobiography, ‘Courage To Dream – The Impossible Becomes Reality’ is available from Waterstones. ● For information about the book, visit www.lastwordpublications.com

7

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Steve’s acting up to spread the message LIVING for Christ is not a performance for mime artist Steve Murray. And he has told how Jesus rescued him from a broken marriage and unemployment. Steve, 46, now travels the world perfoming mime sketches and spreading the Christian message. But life wasn’t always happy for the father-of-three. He said: “I had a broken marriage with someone who had rejected Christ. I’d been made redundant and had lost my job in retail management. I had lost my house and everything. It was a really tough experience. I remember saying to my pastor at the time that I felt like I was going through hell.” It was at this bleak point in Steve’s life that he was introduced to the idea of mime. And it was through several strange coincidences – which Steve now recognises as signs from God – that he took up miming full-time. He added: “Someone i n church was praying for me and had a vision of me with a white face. I remember thinking, ‘I hate clowns!’ “Someone else in the church approached me and said, ‘You’ve got to come round to my house. God’s told me to give you something that’s going to change your life.’ “I thought it would be a car or something like that but it was a video of an American mime artist.” But the video did have a profound affect on Steve. “Watching

by Becky Barlow this video I was crying my eyes out because it was so powerful – then I realised I was watching a guy with a white face,” he said. “It was a clear sign from God: ‘This is what I’m calling you into.’” Unsure what to do next, he took the video home and started to copy the moves and teach himself as much as he could. He soon realised that this wasn’t enough, but th rough another unexpected turn of events, his life was about to change. “Soon after, a letter came to the church forwarded from another church, with a note on it which said, ‘Not interested, but someone in your church might be.’ “I opened it up and it was a tour schedule from the guy off the video, Todd Farley, so I had three confirmations.” Steve and his assistant pastor went to meet the American and they hit it off immediately. After attending a workshop in the UK, Steve went to his summer school in St Louis, Missouri for an intensive three-week course. Todd quickly recognised his talent and, in 1995, he offered Steve a two-year scholarship to his mime school in LA. Upon his return, Steve met his wife Debbie and they married in 1997. But it wasn’t until 2002 that he went into full time ministry. He added: ‘I’ve been to 30 countries – Holland, Ireland, Spain, Latvia, India and Austral-

MURRAY’S MINT... Mime artist Steve Murray

ia just to name a few. I take Bible stories and perform them. “What I hope for is that people connect with my mime in a fresh and different way. We all hear the Bible stories over and over, and top speakers at conferences, but mime artists are few and far between. “Top speakers are great but

sometimes it’s good to try a different way. Mime grabs people because they have to watch it and think about it. It draws them into my world. It has a power to go stra ight to the heart. It affects people. It’s an emotionally led art form.” For more information, go to www.beholdmimeministry.org

Future bright for church as new building opens A MANCHESTER church celebrated the opening of its new building with a celebration service recently. The Lighthouse Chris-

tian Centre has moved into a stunning 800-seater auditorium with hightech facilities. The site includes conference rooms, crèche

facilities, a café and luxurious offices. The opening was attended by dignitaries, including the Mayor, Coun George Wilson, and past

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Crossword ACROSS 1. Molecules (9) 7. Spear (5) 8. Arithmetical operation (5) 9. Light fog (4) 10. Reply (6) 12. Ploy (6) 14. Matured (4) 17. Debate (5) 18. Tip over (5) 20. Study of the universe (9 © Krazydad.com

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and present church members. Pa stor Pau l Ha l la m s a i d : “A t t h e c h u r c h opening, we made a clear statement. Despite all the

negative press and comme nts conce r n i ng t he Church in the media, we showed that the Church is growing, is healthy and is flourishing.”

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Issue 203 • NEW LIFE 9

COMMENT Best decision KEITH “Mitch” Mitchell was like most teenagers. Growing into adulthood meant he could fill his life with whatever he wanted. So he turned to alcohol and chasing girls. He also thought smoking pot was what any young adult would do. Unfortunately he felt, like so many teenagers do today, that church and God just didn’t need to be part of his agenda. At the age of 19 he realised that the one thing missing in his life was Jesus. And he knew that if he could connect with Christ, then his life would change. Mitch is now a firefighter – and saving lives in more way than one. People may think that a hulking firefighter wouldn’t fit the bill as a male Chrisitan. But the truth is Christians come from all walks of life. Within this month’s New Life, you’ll find a boxer, former football yob and even – on this page – a mime artist who have declared that they follow Christ. That’s because you can’t pigeonhole a Christian. Committing your life to Christ is the best decision you can make. Mitch is now encouraging men to join a church. There are many ministries like his that recognise that what churches lack are men, particularly young men who just can’t get excited about church. They have an idea about what a church does and what goes on there – but you’d be wrong to assume. That’s because churches today worship in all kinds of ways. In fact, many even have events specifically for men, including curry nights! Whether you are a Christian who stopped going to church because it wasn’t right for you, or you’re not a Christian but want to find out more, then we’d urge you to do so. Why not contact the church that gave you this copy of New Life? They’d be delighted to see you.

BIBLE QUOTE OF THE MONTH “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.” Psalm 28:7-9 Editor: Peter Wreford Advertising: Barry Wilson

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KEEP THIS PAGE TO HELP YOU FIND A NEW DIRECTION IN LIFE... ALTRINCHAM The Upper Room Christian Fellowship, The Downs. Sunday services 10.45am and 6.30pm. Enquiries: 0161 282 6676. (CA09)

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BIRMINGHAM Bromford Bridge Church Centre (AoG), Bromford Drive. Sundays 10.45am and 6pm. Minister Ivor Davies. Tel: 0121 748 7081 Mobile 07745 100 942. (AG30) B U R Y S T ED MU N D S, Suffolk. The Christian Resource Centre (a Pentecostal church). Oakes Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 6PX. www. crcministries.co.uk 01284 761000. Service times: Sunday 10.30am and 6.30pm. All the family will be made (EQ05) very welcome. CANTERBURY Trinity Community Church. Meetings Sundays 10.45am at St Stephen’s Junior School, Hales Place, Canterbury. Tel: 01227 459 785. (CA06)

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BIG HIT... Asomoah Gyan

Issue 203 •

FOOTY YOB JUST LOOKED FOR TROUBLE

SUNDERLAND striker Asamoah Gyan believes “everything is possible” after their shock victory against Chelsea. The 24-year-old striker has become a popular hit at the Stadium of Light. Gyan believes Sunderland have demonstrated immense potential this season and confidence is flowing throughout the squad. “Everything is working out well,” said Gyan. “I thank God for that because I am a Christian. “All the players did well. We have a good team with good players. “We must believe in ourselves because with the kind of players we have, we should have confidence in ourselves that we can go places.”

He longed for Saturdays – but not to watch the beautiful game from the terraces. Simon, or Pinchey as he was known to his colleagues, rarely saw a match. He lived for the brawls and fights between rival sets of fans in some of London’s toughest pubs. There he would wade into the middle with his fists and police baton smashing into the teeth or skull of anyone who got in his way. Simon, who was the Police Force Heav y weight Boxing Champion, says: “I’d be fired up, ready to charge into battle. “It was a great way to unleash my pent up aggression. I’d stomp on bodies and bash heads together.” From an early age, Simon had lusted after two thing – violence and money. Growing up in Burton-on-Trent, he started drinking heavily as a teenager. Friday nights were spent in the pub downing 15 pints, while Sat u rday morn i ngs were spent stomping on the faces of the opposi-

UP FOR A FIGHT... Simon Pinchbeck battles to save lives now tion in bloody rugby matches. But one night, Simon had a panic attack and badly beat up a fellow officer in a nightclub fight. He was sent for trial but found not guilty. However, he knew it meant the end of his police career. “I sta rted ha ng i ng out w it h crim inals, big time crim inals,” said Simon. “They had the cars, the houses, the lifestyle I’d always longed for and I wanted a slice.” But with the money came trouble, and Simon found himself in se-

rious battles with some of Britain’s toughest crooks. “That’s when God threw me a lifeline,” he smiles. “I was at the gym when I spotted a guy called Lee who used to be a major drugs baron. He had had a reputation for violence, but I knew he had become a Christian. “I’d tried religion once but Christians made me sick. They seemed weak and I didn’t do soft. If you wanted something in life, you didn’t turn the other cheek, you smashed the other guy’s first.” Simon got talking to Lee and revealed he used to be a cop. “I told him my nickname was the Walrus. He laughed and said ‘you’re the Walrus? You used to chase me over the terraces when I was in a gang.’ A few weeks later, Simon went to Lee’s church and started following an Alpha course. His memory of religion had been of boring services and saying long prayers out of duty. Now he actually looked forward to Sunday mornings. “People noticed a difference in me, and I felt it too,” he explained. “My wife, Linda, was sceptical at first but supported me. I still

had feelings of revenge and hatred but they had less of a hold on me. For the first time I felt real peace. This wasn’t religion. The key was a relationship with Jesus. I could talk to him and I heard him speak to me when I read the Bible or prayed.” Simon met up with a Christian group called Tough Talk. The members are ex-bouncers, villains and power-lifters. They travel the world speaking about their faith and doing street demonstrations. “I go into prisons telling guys about where I was and where I am now,” says Simon. “If someone had told me when I was beating up football thugs or mixing with villains that one day I’d be on a stage talking about Jesus, I’d had laughed at them. Only God could put this together. “Since I became a Christian, I’ve become stronger, not weaker. It takes a real man to be humble before the Lord and out of his old ways for Jesus. “Life’s not easy, but Jesus is a real friend who won’t stitch me up. If I fall, he is there to pick me up. “If God can do this for me, think what he can do for you – if you give him the chance.”

Club future is cherry bright!

BATTY ABOUT FAITH... South Africa’s Nicky Boje

DESPITE serious financial problems in recent years, the future of AFC Bournemouth is looking bright. T h e L e a g ue Tw o outfit ca n certa i n ly rely on the prayers of t he i r c lub c hapla i n Andy Rimmer (right). Andy, who took on the role at The Cherries two years ago, said: “Sport and my faith in God are two of my biggest passions, and when I was at university I became involved with a group called Christians in Sport. “They are a very big organisation that reaches out to those who combine their faith with sport, so for me it was ideal. I try and get down to the club at least once a week. “Most of the time I go down to the training ground so I can see some of the injured players, but sometimes I also go to the stadium and talk to other staff at the club.”

No regrets, says Jones RETIRED rugby ace Michael Jones says putting God first is a decision he will never regret. The New Zealand star famously lost his place on the Kiwi’s World Cup squad i n 1995 because he refused to play on Sundays. The decision earned h i m c r it i c i s m , but he has no regrets. He said: “When I stopped playing rugby, people soon forgot the player a nd one thing I’d like to be remembered for is the one person who put God before rugby. “I fe e l t h at CRITICISED.... people who would Michael Jones never have heard about God, have done so because of my stand, because it’s brought attention to it. “I’ve been able to show people that there obviously is a God who must exist or else someone wouldn’t be prepared to do that.”

11

Tough guy’s heart softened by faith TOUGH talking cop Simon Pinchbeck loved his football.

Star striker thanks God for victory

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Faith a net gain

ALL-ROUNDER BOWLED OVER BY GOD’S LOVE CRICK ET fans w ill be k nocked for six when they realise the allrounder Nicky Boje’s beliefs. The South African revealed he is a Christian who regularly prays and reads his Bible. He said: “God controls my life

and also the life of my whole family. It started when my family introduced me to going to church. “God has played a big part in my life on the sports field. It’s good to know that he is my captain and coach, and he is leading me even on

the field. As a Christian sportsman I know that I have a responsibility to show others that I belong to the Lord and am part of his family, and to let his light shine through me whatever I do, whether that’s on or off the field.”

TOP Toffee stopper Ca rlo Nash refuses to cheat saying: “It’s net my style!” And the talented keeper says Jesus helps him keep a clean sheet – on and off the pitch. Carlo (right), who joi ned Eve r ton t wo years ago, admits players are under pressure to get results. “It’s impossible to act in a perfect way all the time, especially in footballing circles. The pressure is huge. I find that being a Christian helps me to deal with disappointing moments in football.”

WHAT LEFT ALL-ROUNDER BOWLED OVER?

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FULL STORY – PAGE 11

tennis ace: I want to serve!

HOW FOOTY YOB HAD A CHANGE OF HEART FULL STORY – PAGE 11

Having my faith’s really a knockout

ALWAYS LOOKING UP... Michael Chang studies the Bible every day. Below, Chang during his professional playing days

Chang tells of what he has focused on since his retirement

FORMER top ten tennis star Michael Chang has revealed the secret to his success.

Chang, now retired, is best remembered for becoming the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at the age of 17. He was known for his on-court speed and fighting spirit, remaining in the top ten world rankings for several years in the 1990s, peaking at World No2. But as well as his ability on the court, Chang is also a devout Christian. His faith was first brought to the spotlight after his famous French Open win, when he declared: “I thank the Lord Jesus Christ because without him, I am nothing.” That statement earned him

fans as well as critics, but being public about his faith has never bothered Chang. The tennis player just wants to serve the Lord and share his faith with others. “I've just received so much joy, so much love, and so many blessings from the Lord. When something good happens to you, you want to share it with people! ”I do a Bible study first thing in the morning and also at night. Throughout the day, I'll pray because the Lord is always there.

teaches "He teaches me a lot through circumstances in my life, whether it’s a tennis match or other things that are going on. “Trying to stay close to the Lord can be very difficult by yourself, so you ask the Lord to help you. You ask him to be your first love and your first priority.

Life will have its ups and downs, but regardless of what’s happening in our lives, if we’re focusing on him, we’ll have the joy that he gives us.” Chang also revealed that he trusted in God long before fame and fortune came his way. He added: “Before all the fame and money, the Lord was there teaching me his way first. “I think there’s a confidence knowing that everything is in God’s hands. “I see so many things happening in my life and I know that they aren’t just mere coincidences. I know that the Lord loves me, that he looks out for me and that he will always be with me and walk with me. “It just brings me a great deal of satisfaction and comfort to know that no matter what happens, he will always take care of me.”

CHAMPION... Manny Pacquiao THE man who is arguably the world’s best ever boxer says God has helped him win ten different titles in eight different weight divisions. Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao, speaking at a church after his latest victory in November, said: “Before, my ultimate dream was just to be champion in the Philippines. But look at me now. “This is because I lifted it all up to the Lord. If you do the same, wonderful things will happen to you.” The devout Christian, who frequently makes the sign of the cross and kneels and prays before fights, also revealed that in his younger years God appeared to him.

unconditional He said: “In my time here on earth, God appeared to me once and told me to have unconditional faith in him. That is true. I was not yet very popular and world champion when our God appeared to me and assured me of strength and power. “This is the first time I reveal this although I was asked many times what are the secrets that made me very popular and world champion. “I love my country and I fight for our honor in all my fights in the ring and my fear is in God who is the source of my strength and power.”

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