CATALYST ISSUE #1. Church Army s magazine. Catalyst #1 1. September 2017

Transcription

1 CATALYST Catalyst #1 1 Church Army s magazine ISSUE #1 September 2017

2 Catalyst #1 3 WELCOME FROM MARK Dear friends, A very warm welcome to the first edition of Church Army s new supporter magazine, Catalyst. Why did we change our name from Shareit! to Catalyst, you may wonder? Because Church Army exists to be evangelistic catalysts and activate positive change. We believe that both our evangelists and the people we reach out to have the power to change lives. It s through changing lives, one at a time, that we move closer to our dream of seeing every community across the British Isles and Ireland transformed and healed by God s love. Please turn to pages 8-9 to see our new vision and values. In this edition, we invite you to travel with us (figuratively at least!) to the beautiful Scottish Borders and meet some of the men who are being supported by the centre s lead evangelist, Paul Smith (pages 12-18). We also hear from our children and families worker, Julie Thomson, as well as some of the mums whose little ones attend Boulder Gang. CONTENTS News All our latest stories 8 Vision and values Church Army s new purpose 10 Biting the bullet Robbie s story 14 The good fight Stories from Colin, Peter and Kenny 19 Child s play Scottish Borders Boulder Gang event 26 Faith behind bars Q&A with prison chaplain, Tony Williams 30 Soul-searching in Spain Three evangelists serving overseas 35 The last word A reflection from Peter Graystone Front cover: Ryan (8) shows the rock he s made to go with the Bible verse: You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Saviour (Psalm 89:26). He attends Boulder Gang, a weekly children s group run by our Scottish Borders Centre of Mission. On page 26, we catch up with Tony Williams, who is chaplain at Eastwood Park women s prison in Gloucestershire. You can also read about three of our retired evangelists Edwin Bates, John le Page and Ken Cavanagh, who are doing fantastic work with the poor in Spain (page 30). I do hope that you will be inspired by these stories, and as you read, you will feel proud of the vital role you play in changing lives across these isles. I thank God for you and pray for you. Yours in Christ, Canon Mark Russell Chief Executive and Community Leader Patron: HM The Queen Church Army is a mission-focused community of people who are transforming lives and communities through the work of evangelists, staff and supporters. We are committed to sharing the Christian faith through words and action in a variety of contexts across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Editor: Michelle Pellegrino Sub-editor: Liz Smith Design & Print: CPO ISSN Is this the first time you ve read our magazine? Would you like to receive your own edition regularly? To sign up and to find out more about our other resources, please visit Alternatively, info@churcharmy.org Catalyst is Church Army s magazine and it is available free upon request. Please let us know if you would prefer not to receive further issues of Catalyst or other communications from Church Army. If you have a story for Catalyst, or suggestions on how we can improve this magazine, then please contact Michelle Pellegrino. The paper used is from sustainable forests and can be recycled. Printed by Colourwise who have accreditation.

3 Catalyst #1 5 CENTRES OF RESEARCH NEWS MISSION NEWS IRELAND Drumcliffe Centre of Mission Our Operations Team have been busy setting up new centres of mission across the British Isles and Ireland. Their goal is to set up 15 more centres by the end of 2020 ENGLAND Scunthorpe Centre of Mission Our Scunthorpe Centre of Mission launched on 19 July and is led by lead evangelist, Sean Andrews, who is supported by pioneer evangelist, Paul McDonough. Sean brings his extensive experience of working with young people and families to the role. Paul formerly served as a youth and community minister for the Diocese of Norwich. He has also worked with the homeless and other marginalised groups. We ll begin outreach on the west side of the city, among the communities of Riddings, Westcliff and Berkeley, said Sean, We want to show the people living in these areas that Jesus cares deeply for them and that he s relevant to their lives. We are currently developing new centres of mission in Liverpool and Norwich. Look out for more details in the next edition of Catalyst. In September, we are launching our second centre of mission in the Republic of Ireland, which will be based in County Sligo in the north west. Isaac Hanna, who has worked for many years in the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh as well as the Drumcliffe group of parishes, has been appointed as the centre s lead evangelist. Alan Williamson, who has been part of the outreach team to the thousands of visitors who visit Drumcliffe Church every year, has been chosen as the centre s pioneer evangelist. Drumcliffe is the site of an historic monastery established by St Columba, which provided a springboard for the evangelisation of these islands and many parts of Europe. Our Church Army team aims to set up a wide range of community events and fresh expressions of church to engage with people of all ages living in the area. SCOTLAND Plans are underway to open two more centres of mission in Scotland: Fife on the east coast and Argyll and The Isles on the west. George has recently been awarded the Canterbury Cross for outstanding services to the Church of England by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby Farewell George After 20 years of leading our Research Unit, George Lings will be retiring in September The main focus of his work has been around the evolving mission of the church and fresh expressions of church (fxc). George has written over 50 case studies of fxc through the publications Encounters on the Edge and Snapshots, as well as compiling statistical reports on the phenomenon based on research conducted in 1,100 fxc around the country. He has also published a book, Messy Church Theology, which explores the significance of this popular expression of church. George s latest book, Reproducing Churches, is a culmination of a lifetime of research into fxc. The book explores how these new churches contribute to fulfilling God s mission. Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell, said: George is one of the world s leading voices on church planting and fresh expressions of Church. He is also a splendid human being and he will be sorely missed. His contribution to Church Army and the wider church continues to be highly significant and transformative. Reproducing Churches is available in all major Christian bookshops or can be ordered online at and Welcome Tim Church Army s new Director of Research will be the Church of England s former Head of Ministry Development, Tim Ling. Tim said: I m very much looking forward to working with the Church Army team, and thinking about how we may build on George s compelling legacy. We cannot pause in our paying attention to how God is active in mission, particularly through the voices from the edge, which is one of the gifts that Church Army brings to the wider church. Tim will begin working for Church Army in October.

4 Catalyst #1 7 NEWSFLASH Happy birthday, Amber! Marylebone in full bloom Our Marylebone Project in London has launched a gardening project which will benefit hundreds of formerly homeless women currently receiving support. This is possible thanks to the Tesco s Bags of Help community grant scheme, which selected us as one of the projects bringing the most benefit to their community. The garden will give our women the chance to relax in the fresh air and try their hand at gardening, which will be therapeutic for them, says the project s operations manager, Phillippa Middleton. It will also provide food for rough sleepers and fresh herbs for our social enterprise project, Munch in Marylebone, which works with vulnerable women to make tasty and healthy food for the local business community. The Amber Project celebrated their 15th year of supporting young people with experience of self-harm in June. Staff and volunteers, both past and present, and the young people held a party to celebrate. Our Cardiff-based project helps more than 100 young people every year. Hitting the honours list Church Army Vice President, Roy Totten, has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for outstanding service to his community in Northern Ireland. We are proud of you, Roy! Baby Basics in Northern Ireland Our North Belfast Centre of Mission, in partnership with the Diocese of Connor, has launched Baby Basics, an initiative to help struggling mothers with essential items for their little ones, such as nappies, baby food and clothing. A baby s arrival into the world is such a miraculous event, but for some mothers it can be a lonely and frightening experience, says the centre s lead evangelist, Karen Webb. Baby Basics is a great team effort, which sees us working with the Diocesan Children s Worker, Jill Hamilton and local health professionals. We re also grateful for the generosity of our local parishes. Bus for Ballina The Tuam Centre of Mission s lead evangelist, Emma Rodrigues, and her team are working hard to renovate a bus they ve recently purchased so that they can connect with people of all ages, particularly young people, living in and around Ballina, County Mayo. We are hoping to begin our bus outreach by September, says Emma, One of our aims is to befriend the traveller community living on the outskirts of Ballina through this mobile drop-in.

5 Catalyst #1 9 NEW VISION AND VALUES MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MARK RUSSELL: For 135 years, Church Army has worked in communities across these islands, helping people know that God thinks they are fantastic and that they can have hope. Our teams invest their lives in bringing love, compassion and joy to people who would never step inside the doors of a church. The time has come to give Church Army a new identity that is true to that proud heritage, while at the same time accurately representing who we are, and more importantly, why we do it. We are very excited to share our new purpose, vision and values with you: PURPOSE To enable people to come to a living faith in Jesus Christ. VISION For everyone, everywhere to encounter God s love and be empowered to transform their communities through faith shared in words and action. STRATEGY To deliver our vision, we have the DARE strategy (Doing, Advocating, Resourcing and Enabling evangelism), and all we do is underpinned by our values. PRAYERFUL Listening to God, being obedient to God, we want to be like Jesus in our life and witness EXPECTANT We are hopeful, expecting God to do new things amongst us ACCOUNTABLE We are accountable to God and others, living reliably and responsibly to high professional standards COLLABORATIVE We are committed to partnership with those who share our values; we believe it enhances our work GENEROUS UNCONDITIONAL RISK-TAKING God is generous and we want to model that generosity to others God loves everyone and everyone is significant in his eyes; we will serve anyone regardless of their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, ability, status or circumstances We have a long heritage as a pioneering movement, prepared to take risks and give colleagues permission to succeed or fail as they seek to do new things

6 Catalyst #1 11 BITING THE BULLET Robbie (70) hasn t had an easy life. From feelings of abandonment by his mother to the death of his two children, he s often felt very alone. After 23 years in the British Army, Robbie returned to his native Scotland. He shares with us how God took him out of a dustbin and into a palace MY MOTHER WALKED OUT ON US I don t know who my father is, I ve never met him. I spent the first part of my life in Hawick in the Scottish Borders, until my mother married a farmer. Our family moved around a lot after that, first across Scotland and later to England. When I was eight years old, we moved to Nottingham. Then, one day, my mother walked out on us. I m the eldest of eight children and, since my stepfather was out working all day, I was the one responsible

7 Catalyst #1 13 BITING THE BULLET continued for feeding, clothing and bathing them. I also did the housework. It was a really tough time in my life and things were about to get worse. From bad to worse My stepfather was diagnosed with a brain tumour, so he couldn t work anymore. My brothers and sisters were taken into care. John, my brother closest in age to me, and I carried on living with my stepfather. We started running out of money and survived mainly on bread and sugar. Eventually, John and I were put into a foster home, thankfully together. Later though, we were separated and I was moved around from one foster home to another until I was 15. It was then that my mother decided she wanted to be part of my life again, so I moved in with her. We lived in a very rough part of Nottingham and I was always getting into scrapes. Being involved in fights became a normal part of my life. Joining the army One day, I saw a poster which said: Join the army and see the world. I really wanted to travel, so I decided to enrol. I was in the training wing by the time I was 18. At that time, we were mainly involved in training the troops going to Northern Ireland as it was the start of The Troubles. I rose rapidly in the ranks, eventually becoming a sergeant. It was while I was in the army that I met my future wife, Brenda. It was I LOST THE PLOT COMPLETELY AFTER HIS DEATH a whirlwind romance and by the time I was 21, we were married. Our daughter, Lorraine, was born soon after. We discovered that she had cystic fibrosis. She died when she was only two-and-a-half years old. We were absolutely devastated, you just don t get over something like that. In 1980, we had a son, Brian. He was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and died just after his ninth birthday. I fell to pieces and lost the plot completely after his death, which resulted in the breakdown of my marriage. In 1995, I decided to return to Hawick. Back to Scotland About six years ago, I started going to Mary s Teas, a weekly get-together which gives people feeling lonely especially us older folk a chance to socialise, enjoy a home-cooked meal, play games and so on. It s run by the Scottish Borders Centre of Mission and Refresh Community Church, which is the church I now go to. Genuine friendships I met Church Army evangelist, Paul Smith, at Mary s Teas. Paul is my mentor and my friend. He often drops by my house to see how I m getting on and if I need anything. I live on my own and I often feel lonely. I ve known a lot of people in my life who said they were my friends, but it wasn t really the case. The people I ve met through church and Mary s Teas are not like that. They re genuinely interested in me and willing to help any way they can. I m part of Soul men s Bible study group Paul invited me to. It s relaxed and informal. We read bits of the Bible together, watch some videos and chat about things. It s really helped me to understand the scriptures and encouraged my faith. Having faith has also improved the quality of my life. SINCE GIVING MY LIFE TO JESUS, I LOOK AT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY Brand new man In September 2016, I decided to take the plunge and give my life to God. I was baptised two months later. The experience brought up such strong feelings within me. I felt like a brand new man. Since becoming a Christian, I ve tried to give back to my community. I m well-known in the village because I m a football coach, a member of the British Legion and part of the music festival committee. Next, I d like to help Paul with outreach to people with family problems, addictions and other issues. I ve been through a lot myself and I would love to share with others how much Jesus has helped me. I look at people differently now. Of course, there will always be people you find annoying, but I ve learnt to be patient. I m not as hot-headed as I used to be because I ve found inner peace. The best way I can describe it is that God has taken me out of the dustbin and put me into a palace. Life s not always going to be kind to you, but you ve to get back on your feet and enjoy being alive.

8 Catalyst #1 15 THE FIGHT GOOD FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF THE FAITH. TAKE HOLD OF THE ETERNAL LIFE TO WHICH YOU WERE CALLED 1 Timothy 6:12 The Scottish Borders Centre of Mission helps men battling addictions, physical illness, low self-esteem and difficult life circumstances through outdoor activities such as walking football, hill-walking and cycling FIGHTING ALCOHOL Colin (53) from Edinburgh: Isolation is a big problem in this part of the world and people can easily get trapped in a vicious circle of isolation, depression and addiction. My weakness is drink. I ve struggled with alcohol addiction for many years perhaps it s a way of coping with other problems in my life. When I drink, my personality changes. It makes me want to pick a fight with someone. I met Paul at the Window of Time drop-in. He invited me to join their walking football group and I ve been going for about a year now. They re a good bunch of guys. We love to share a laugh but there s also a lot of respect among us. Sometimes God feels so far away and at other times I feel that he s right here next to me, cuddling me. My faith has got deeper since I started taking part in the events run by the Scottish Borders Centre of Mission. I pray for strength to fight my drinking problem, I ve been clean for over three months now. I know that God listens to me when I pray, as he knows when someone is praying from the heart. (L-R) Colin, Peter, Church Army evangelist Paul Smith, and Kenny

9 Catalyst #1 17 THE GOOD FIGHT continued FIGHTING PARKINSON S Peter (59) from Liverpool: When I was in my late 40s I was diagnosed with Parkinson s disease. It s a disease that s different from day to day; it s always throwing something new at me. It causes me a lot of pain and discomfort and I struggle to sleep. It s important not to give into it and end up just sitting in front of the telly, feeling sorry for myself. I had to give up my job as an electrical tester because of Parkinson s and eventually I couldn t drive my car anymore. Paul has been such a blessing to me. He got me a trike to get around on. I also take part in the walking football he organises and I ve made good friends with the guys who go there, including three other guys who suffer from Parkinson s. It s nice to enjoy a coffee together after the game. We often go out for a pizza too. Paul comes to visit me at home and we do lots lot of lad things, like watching football games together. He has a strong spirituality and I can talk to him openly about matters of faith. I ve given my life to the Lord and I worship at Refresh Community Church in Newcastleton. I also go to Bible study every Tuesday. God is my anchor, he s there to help me through the storms of life. I find his constancy so reassuring he is the same yesterday, today and forever. FIGHTING LONELINESS Kenny (58) from Hawick: When I was 31, I tried to commit suicide. I was suffering from depression and took an overdose of sleeping pills. I know it s thanks to Jesus that I survived. I met Paul in 2010 at the Window of Time drop-in. I can talk to him about anything, and he genuinely has an answer to all my faith questions. We all need someone we can talk to about the deeper things in life. I take part in the weekly walking football games that s where us 50-plus guys get a chance to do some exercise and socialise and I m quite good, I can score with both my left and right foot! I really enjoy it. I love to write poetry and my cycling trips with Paul have inspired a lot of my poems. Our cycling excursions are very special to me. We see some beautiful scenery on the way, and it feels great to be out there, with the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing on our faces it gives me such a feeling of well-being, it re-energises me. You feel closer to God when you re surrounded by nature. Writing poems brings me closer to God too, it s one of the ways I can really express myself to him. I live on my own, I ve never been married and I don t have any children. It can get quite lonely at times, so taking part in the different events and activities Paul sets up really improves the quality of my life. [Church Army evangelists] Paul and Julie mean a lot to me. Before I met them, I was very withdrawn, isolated from the community and rather self-centred. Paul has helped me to broaden my horizons. I m a much braver and happier person now, thanks to Church Army.

10 Catalyst #1 19 A BICYCLE RIDE OUT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE (Excerpt from Kenny s poem) Although you don t own a car you aim to go far riding on your bicycle pedal power of two feet you enjoy the view that you keep in your mind s eye as you pass by pine trees, horses, sheep, pigs, cattle who are free to graze on pastures green who could only be seen at leisure and your own pleasure it s what you will treasure in your mind s eye because you said to yourself let s take a bicycle ride out in the countryside... Paul Smith is the lead evangelist of our Scottish Borders Centre of Mission. His work includes: Mary s Teas: a befriending ministry to the elderly, lonely and housebound Window of Time: a drop-in for individuals living in Hawick suffering from loneliness, mental health issues and substance misuse 2Blether: a drop-in providing food and friendship to the people of Newcastleton Home visits: to the housebound and lonely Soul: a weekly men s Bible study group particularly suited for new Christians CHILD S PLAY STORIES FROM SCOTTISH BORDERS CENTRE OF MISSION Children and families

11 Catalyst #1 21 Julie with her son Brandon, who helps out with the children s groups. At the back, Church Army youth worker, Zach Julie Thomson is a local lass, born and bred among the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders. As a girl, she went to the primary school in Newcastleton, a sleepy village with a population of little more than 700 people. For the past nine years, she s been working with children from the same primary school she went to as a child Julie and Zach at our Scottish Borders Centre of Mission run three children s groups in the village of Newcastleton: Stepping Stones (0-4 year olds) Boulder Gang (5-8 year olds) Rock Solid (9-12 year olds) THERE WAS NO PROJECT IN PLACE TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT JESUS I used to run Sunday school for the local parish church, but I was frustrated that we were only reaching a few churchgoing families through it, says Julie. Children have the right to make up their own minds about faith, but they need access to information to be able to make that choice. At the time, there was no project in place to teach children from non-christian families about Jesus. Then, in 2008, Church Army opened the Scottish Borders Centre of Mission. That same year, Julie was employed as our children and families worker and has been running children s groups in the area ever since. Stepping Stones is for tiny tots aged 0-4. Bible stories are brought to life through puppets, songs and lots of expressive hand gestures. I try to give a modern twist to these ancient stories so the children can understand the relevance of Jesus in their day-to-day lives, Julie says. WE REINFORCE BIBLE STORIES THROUGH ACTING OUT THE SCENES When a child turns five, he or she can move on to Boulder Gang and most of them do. The games we play are the ones that primary school children enjoy most, noisy and messy! laughs Julie, Our times of worship are full of lively music and dancing. We reinforce Bible stories through acting out the scenes, as well as arts and crafts. A bit of healthy competition doesn t hurt either. The children are split into teams and points are awarded throughout their time together. Little prizes such as sweets and colouring pencils are given to the boys and girls who have paid the most attention or participated especially well. Some of the children who attend are introverted, insecure or suffer from behavioural difficulties. They re all welcomed, loved and accepted here. The children are also taught the importance of looking after and praying for each other. THEY RE ALL WELCOMED, LOVED AND ACCEPTED HERE I remember the light bulb moment I had in my early 20s, when I finally understood the simplicity of the gospel, who Jesus is and how he s offering us eternal life, Julie says, The best part of my job is to be able to share my love of Jesus with the children, and it s a total delight to see their simple acceptance of Christian truths. I believe that my life purpose is to share the gospel with our little ones. It s part of who I am, it s in my DNA.

12 Catalyst #1 23 MEET THE MUMS KELLY with her children Kayden (6) and Kristie (10) LAURA with her sons Finlay (6) and Zac (3) I often worry about Finlay, as he s such a sensitive boy. Boulder Gang is the only after school event he s willing to go to he feels safe and secure there. He s been going for almost two years now. He took part in the younger children s group, Stepping Stones, before that. Fin lacks confidence at times. Julie and Zach have really helped to build his self-esteem and he absolutely adores them! They ve also taught him how important it is to be kind, caring and fair. My youngest son, Zac, is named after Zach the Church Army youth worker! Finlay was the one who suggested his name, which is a testament to how much he enjoys these get-togethers. Zac learns a great deal from attending the event and his social skills are developing nicely. He is learning to share and interact with the other children while playing games and having fun. The Church Army team has created a very close-knit, stimulating and nurturing environment for our children, and I cannot praise them enough. My son, Kayden has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. The Boulder Gang team has been fabulous with him every step of the way. Julie recently gave him a book called Jesus and Me. My husband and I are not religious but it took our breath away how much this book has helped him through his meltdown moments. We had tried loads of different things to try and get him to calm down, but nothing seemed to work until this book. It s like magic, it relaxes him immediately! We recently moved out of the area but we re happy to drive the extra distance to Newcastleton so our kids can carry on attending Boulder Gang brings a huge grin to their faces, so it s totally worth it!

13 Catalyst #1 25 MEET THE MUMS continued THE CHILDREN SAY CAL with her children, Bethany (7) Joe (3) and baby Benjamin We moved to Newcastleton in In a small, rural village, it can be hard to get to know people so it s easy to feel isolated. The Church Army children s groups have been a real blessing not only for my children, but for me too. I really value the time to chat with the other parents, while my children are having a whale of a time in the next room. Julie s story-telling skills keep the children spellbound. She has the most incredible gift for distilling complex Bible truths into a few simple words that they can understand. Julie s kind, loving nature represents Jesus to every family that walks through the door. Zach is a great asset to the children s groups. He is funny, energetic and seems to intuitively know what children need and how best to encourage them. My children have been attending Stepping Stones and Boulder Gang ever since we moved to the village. We re a Christian family and we can see how Bethany s faith is encouraged and developed through the event. She s learning more and more about the Bible and how to live out her faith in practical terms. She just loves sharing what she learns with her friends from school, most of who are not from Christian families. Boulder Gang makes Christianity cool! FINLAY (6): I like coming here because we play lots of games. I like the stories about Noah s Ark and when Jesus calms the storm and says: peace. LAYNA (5): I like to come to Boulder Gang because we learn about God. The part when Jesus dies makes me sad. Julie gave me a book about Jesus and I like to read it with mummy. BETHANY (7): I like to come to Boulder Gang because Julie, Zach and the other leaders are here. We sing lots of songs, my favourite song is Shine from the Inside Out. My favourite Bible story is when Jesus was born.

14 Catalyst #1 27 FAITH BEHIND BARS Tony How long have you been Chaplain at HMP Eastwood Park and what were you doing before then? I ve been involved in youth ministry since 1979 and, over the years, I ve frequently worked with young ex-offenders. While praying about what next, I was approached by my bishop to consider ministering in HMP Gloucester men s prison, which I accepted. When the prison closed down in 2013, I was transferred to HMP Eastwood Park women s prison. How was the transition from working with male to female prisoners? At first, I felt very unsure about my new role as the needs are very different. Women seem much more upfront about approaching me for help and support. I remember that on my second day there, a woman came up to me on and asked for a blessing. When I looked up, I saw a queue of 12 women waiting for me to pray with them too! Behind the imposing walls and barbed wire of HMP Eastwood Park, lie hidden many sad stories of mental illness, sexual abuse, mothers separated from their children and women who self-harm. We chat to one of the chaplains of the women s prison in Gloucestershire, Church Army evangelist, Tony Williams, to find out more Could you give us a few examples of what your ministry involves? I visit the women in all nine wings of the prison. It s often those small encounters as I walk around that are so significant. I lead communion services, Bible studies and prayer groups for the women and attend reviews for those who are at risk of self-harm or suicide. I also mentor and give housing support to the women on their release from prison. What do you find the most rewarding about your role? The women I work with are incredibly honest about who they are, there is no pretence. This openness means that they are also very much open to God. What is the most important thing that God has been teaching you? I ve learnt how important it is to see individuals through God s eyes, not through the eyes of society. Every person, no matter what they ve done, is precious to him and he s at work in the life and soul of each one of us. Christian ministers can sometimes fall in to the trap of thinking that it all depends on us and on what we do but God was there long before us. Our job is to get in tune with what God is already doing in people s lives. Tony reaches out to around 400 women housed in HMP Eastwood Park

15 Catalyst #1 29 MEET SOME OF THE WOMEN Eastwood Park Prison Fact File Around 400 women are housed within the prison, including women as young as 17 The prison takes in women from across the South West, Wales and the West Midlands. This means that many of the women are far from where their children, family and friends live, making it even more difficult to see their loved ones A significant number of the inmates have disabilities or struggle with learning difficulties, half the prison population is in contact with mental health services and three out of four women in the prison are undergoing treatment for drug and alcohol dependence Around 10 self-harm incidents take place in the prison every week The prison includes a mother and baby unit, which can house no more than 12 mothers and their babies, usually up until the age of 18 months ROSIE * EMILY * CHERYL * Poem written by Sarah is serving a two-year sentence. Although she s only 36 years old, she looks much older. Rosie was abused by a family member as a young girl. This led to a vicious cycle of low self-esteem, self-harm, drug abuse and prostitution. In prison, she has discovered the God who opens his arms to the hurt and broken. Day by day, she is growing in her faith walk. was imprisoned in her early 20s for violently attacking her partner s ex-girlfriend. She lost custody of her children and when she was released she had no home to go to. Emily asked to be put in touch with a church, where she s been receiving support. She wants to share the Good News with other women who ve had similar experiences. has learning difficulties. Although she has been released from prison numerous times, she keeps ending up back behind bars again. Cheryl has no home to go to and no family or friends to turn to, so she prefers being in prison, where she knows everyone and feels safe. Dear chaplains, Thank you so much for the love and support you have given me since I have been in prison. You are all special and have been angels and I don t know how I would have got through my bad times without you. Through my faith, I feel I can have new beginnings when I leave prison. Lots of love always, *Names have been changed Sarah *

16 Catalyst #1 31 SOUL-SEARCHING IN SPAIN Edwin with some of the members of the congregation outside the village church of Llanos de Peral on the Costa Almeria Originally from Jarrow in north east England, for the past four years Edwin (65) has been living in the small town of Vera, in the Andalusian province of Almeria. He has helped to pioneer a church plant for expatriates and supports more than 1,000 families in need through local food banks Just saying Spain evokes visions of sapphire seas, geranium-covered houses and fiery flamenco dancing. Behind this spirit of fiesta, however, are tales of poverty and suffering. Retired Church Army evangelists, Edwin Bates, Ken Cavanagh and John Le Page actively serve their communities in southern Spain, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised. Michelle Pellegrino speaks to our three pioneers abroad to find out what God has been teaching them in that sunny part of the world Vera is a picturesque, traditional farming town on the Spanish coast. It was growing as a holiday destination until it was hit by the recession. Construction screeched to a halt and many people found themselves without a job. I m very much involved in the running of two local food banks. One of the food banks is held at the evangelical church in Turre, a small hilltop town of Muslim origin, and is a partnership between the church and Lions Club International. We give out food parcels to about 90 families a week. They are all Spanish or gitano (traveller) families, with very little or no income to live on. A lot of the families are quite large, with four or more young children. I also coordinate a foodbank in Vera, which is run by the local Ecuadorian community and their church. This foodbank supports around 1,000 families in need, a mixture of native Spanish, Ecuadorians and gitanos. THE FOODBANK SUPPORTS AROUND 1,000 FAMILIES IN NEED I ve been active in planting an Anglican church in the area, which is growing and thriving. Many expatriates live in the area and our worshipping community has grown to more than 50 people in just 18 months. A lot of expatriates travel long distances to take part in our church services keep in mind that the size of our parish is as big as the whole of Wales! At our village church in Llanos de Peral (Costa Almeria), we embrace a lively and informal style of worship and it s really exciting to witness faith deepening and lives being transformed by God. I m part of the Almeria chaplaincy team and I lead services in the popular beach resort of Mojacar. The local Catholic Church has been very supportive of our ministry and let us use their beautiful church buildings free of charge. I regularly conduct funeral services for expatriates, which allows me to meet and share the gospel with individuals who have no contact with the church. We re praying about where to plant the next church and I m excited to see where God will lead us. I feel that I m in the right place at the right time to be of service to the Lord.

17 Catalyst #1 33 SOUL-SEARCHING IN SPAIN continued Manchester-born Ken (74) has 54 years of working for Church Army under his belt. He retired to the port city of Alicante in Costa Blanca 10 years ago and enjoys keeping fit, which has given him plenty of opportunities to share his faith with others Born and bred in the Channel Island of Guernsey, John (78) celebrates half a century of being a Church Army evangelist this year. For the past 13 years, he has been living in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, where he shares God s love with individuals sleeping rough on the city s streets: At the gym, I m affectionately known as Padre Anglicano (the Anglican priest). The predominantly Catholic gym members are curious to know more about how things work in CATHOLIC GYM MEMBERS ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE the Anglican church, so talking about the gospel is a natural follow-on in conversation. Less than one percent of the country s inhabitants are Protestant, so Spanish people are fascinated to hear me express my faith in a way that they haven t come across before. Six years ago, I helped to set up a support group called Listeners, which offers a 24/7 telephone counselling service for English-speakers living in Spain. People phone in for advice and support for all sorts of reasons, from the loss of a loved one and loneliness to sexual problems and debt. We also run a one-to-one counselling service and monthly group meetings to support those experiencing difficult life circumstances. It s a real blessing to meet people where they re at and be able to share God s love with them. In the evenings, I work alongside The Salvation Army, giving out food and drinks to people sleeping rough on the city s streets. We also offer food parcels to struggling families. The families we re supporting are mainly Spanish, although some are Muslim, Latin American and East European. A lot of these immigrant families moved to Spain during the country s building boom and were left without work when the sector collapsed. The food parcels include non-perishable goods such as rice, pasta, flour, lentils, sugar and tinned products. We also provide baby food and nappies. Ken, pictured here with one of the volunteers, Pedro, distributes food parcels to families in need every week I hear many sad stories in my ministry, but also stories of hope. A few years ago, I met Tomas and Fritz, who had just got off a bus from Barcelona. They told me that they had been working illegally for a construction company to make ends meet. One day, out of the blue, the foreman told them they were no longer needed. We gave them some food, blankets and directions to our event which offers nightly meals to those in need. We also helped them to find work and invited them to an informal café-style church. They both ended up giving their lives to Christ. I want everyone I meet to know they are a member of God s family. Every person matters to God. I preach and participate in the life of four churches in and around the province of Malaga. Each congregation is made up of 30 to 40 mainly expatriate worshippers. Many of them are extremely concerned about the financial implications of Brexit, especially the older age group who have seen their pensions shrink due to the falling exchange rates. I m there to listen and be a friend to them. Our Songs of Praise worship centre in Benalmádena is particularly well-attended by tourists, with over 100 people coming to our Sunday evening services. The town is rich in beautiful beaches and other attractions, and we ve had people from over 60 John with Pepe, a homeless man who sleeps on the streets of Fuengirola countries come and worship with us, from places as far-flung as Canada, China and New Zealand. I VE HEARD SO MANY DISTRESSING STORIES OVER THE YEARS A big part of my ministry is reaching out to individuals experiencing homelessness and being there for them whenever they want to get something off their chest. I ve heard so many distressing stories over the years. A lot of them end up in prison, while others lose their minds after too many years of living on the streets. I always carry sandwiches and drinks around with me. One day, I gave some sandwiches to a homeless man who thanked me, saying: I haven t eaten for two days you must be Jesus. I promptly replied, No, but I work for him! I also hand out packets of tissues to the less fortunate, which they seem to appreciate almost as much as food and drink. Church members have I ALWAYS CARRY SANDWICHES AND DRINKS AROUND WITH ME also been very generous in donating to our weekly food collections for the poor. I try and find out the birthdays of the rough sleepers I ve built relationships with so I can give them a birthday card and a Bible. One of them, a German man in his late sixties called Maikel, tells me he reads his Bible every day and that it gives him great comfort. I m painfully aware that I can only help a small proportion of people experiencing homelessness, but I aim to reflect God s love to everyone I make contact with.

18 Catalyst #1 35 FAITH, SPANISH STYLE Andalusia is famous for having its own extravagant and emotive brand of Catholicism, as quintessentially Spanish as bull-fighting or flamenco. THE LAST WORD: INDELIBLY MARKED Festive street processions like the colourful Semana Santa (Holy Week), featuring hooded penitents and massive floats carrying life-size statues of the Madonna and Christ are a normal part of life in the region. Catholic church rituals still mark important life events such as baptisms, marriage and deaths. Spaniards also remember their dead by having masses said for their souls. Writing to the Christians of Ephesus, Paul said that when they became Christians they were branded with the Holy Spirit. In the marketplace of Ephesus, when customers bought animals or grain, the goods were marked indelibly to identify their new owner. When he returned at the end of the day, there was no doubt to whom they belonged. SPAIN AT A GLANCE: Nearly three million people in Spain sleep on the streets or live in homeless shelters, shanty towns or in other destitute conditions, according to Catholic charity, Caritas. A 2014 UNICEF report stated that one in three Spanish children (2.3 million or 27% of the country s children) live in or on the verge of poverty. The Statistical Office of The European Communities, EUROSTAT, revealed that Spain s unemployment rates (18.4%) were among the highest in the EU in January The country also has one of the highest unemployment rates for under 25s in Europe (42.2%). Spain s financial crisis is having an impact on its expatriate community, with growing numbers of Britons seeking welfare assistance, living in homeless shelters or at risk of homelessness. by Peter Graystone I was in the underwear department of a store when a market researcher asked me what my favourite brand was. I replied: Kelloggs. I could tell this wasn t the answer she hoped for. But I do so love my cornflakes! The way we recognise brands is really important. I once came out of Oxford Circus tube station looking for Marks and Spencer. Even though I didn t know which way to turn, I could see a green glow in the distance. I was so certain it was the M&S green that I went towards it. I was right. Now, we have a new way to recognise Church Army projects and resources. I love it. Our new logo has great, bold letters and includes the date we were established, which speaks of a faithful history and a strong determination to bring the Good News to the present. The first time I saw it, I thought of a tent. It makes me happy to think of Church Army as a huge tent in which the country s neediest people can find shelter while the love and hope of Jesus restores their lives. Did you know the idea of a logo appears in the Bible? WHEN YOU BELIEVED, YOU WERE MARKED IN HIM WITH A SEAL, THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT Ephesians 1:13 It s true of you too. You are indelibly marked with a logo. The Holy Spirit is your invisible tattoo. Ever since you became a Christian, the Holy Spirit has been the sign that you belong to God, no one else can take you away. It s with him that you are going home. Your brand is a wonderful thing. Wouldn t it be hilarious if all Christians had a green glow like Marks and Spencer? Your logo is invisible, of course. But wouldn t it be great if Christians were so recognisable by their love for others that people could recognise them as men and women of the Holy Spirit, even if they just glimpsed them from a distance

19 LIVE LOVE LEAVE We all want to live well, to love and be loved, and to leave something for the future. Gifts left in Wills allow us to fund one in four of our projects and each of those gifts however big or small makes a difference to lives of the people we work with. By leaving us a small gift in your Will you will be helping to transform lives and communities into the future, leaving an eternal legacy. To learn more about how you can leave a gift in your Will to Church Army, please visit or contact Becky Forder on tel , becky.forder@churcharmy.org Using your personal information (Data Protection) Church Army is committed to processing your personal data in a fair, lawful and transparent manner. We will only use your data for the purposes you have provided it for and in line with the consent you have given us. We will not share your data with any third parties, except for those acting as our agents, such as the mailing houses we use to distribute Catalyst, Prayer Diary and our fundraising appeals. All third parties we work with have adequate data protection policies and procedures in place. Further details in relation to the data we hold, how it will be processed and your rights are set out in our privacy notices and our data protection policy which can be found at Church Army, Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ Tel: info@churcharmy.org Web: Church Army is a Registered Charity Nos & SC A Company Limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales No: ISSN