shareit!Winter 2014/Spring 2015

The Magazine of Church Army

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Welcome

Dear friends,Throughout our lives as Christians we are continually

sowing gospel seeds with people we meet day-to-day, yet more often than not, we never find out if those gospel seeds have grown and flourished. As it says in the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8, some seeds fall on rocky ground, some fall among thorns and are choked, while others fall on good soil and prosper.

Yet as I read Leslie’s story, which is part of our ONE series, I was once again reminded of God’s faithfulness as he journeys with us through life and how it is never too late to turn to him. Leslie from Shrewsbury is 84 years old and came to faith a few years ago while taking part in an Alpha course at his church after years of rejecting God. He is now sharing his new-found faith with others thanks to the encouragement of our Evangelist, Gordon Lamb. Amazing! (pages 12-13)

This edition of Shareit! is also very exciting as you can find out more about becoming a member of our mission community, which is open to anyone with a heart for evangelism and seeing people come to know Jesus (pages 14-17). Our mission community is a movement of Christians across the United Kingdom and Ireland and is a place where you can be encouraged and resourced in evangelism and meet with other people who share your passion. We hope you’ll consider joining us.

Finally, I’d like to thank you once again for your continued support of our work. Together we are having a real gospel impact across our nation and I hope you are encouraged to be a part of it.

Yours in Christ

Canon Mark Russell Chief Executive

www.churcharmy.org.uk/ceo

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.

The paper used is from sustainable forests and can be recycled. Printed by Colourwise who have 14001 accreditation.

Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ Tel: 0300 123 2113 Email: info@churcharmy.org.uk www.churcharmy.org.uk Registered Charity Nos: 226226 & SC040457

Editor: Hannah Gray 0300 123 2113 Sub-editor: Bethan Hill Design & Print: CPO 01903 264556 ISSN 1751-3960

Shareit! is the magazine of Church Army and it is available free upon request. Please let us know if you would prefer not to receive further issues of Shareit! or other communications from Church Army. If you have a story for Shareit!, or suggestions on how we can improve this magazine, then please contact Hannah Gray.

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Shareit! 40 Winter/Spring 2014/2015

4 News All our latest stories

8 Christmas Angel appeal Barbara’s journey on the streets of London

10 ONE series Craig and Leslie share their stories

14 Be part of the journey Join our mission community

18 Review of the year From our Annual Report

22 Stepping into evangelism Resourcing your church

24 Research funding for fresh expressions of church

25 Xplore Evangelism training for young adults

28 Now a Christian App and website relaunched

30 Church Army Champions Join the team

31 The last word A reflection from Peter Graystone

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shareit!Winter 2014/Spring 2015

The Magazine of Church Army

40

Is this the first time you’ve read a copy of Shareit!? Would you like to receive your own edition regularly? To sign up and to find out more about our other resources, please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/res Alternatively email info@churcharmy.org.uk, telephone 0300 123 2113 or write to Church Army, Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ.

Front cover: Evangelist, Nick Russell, at our Greenwich Centre of Mission in London leading the Coffee Stop drop-in for vulnerable people.

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A team of 16 runners has taken to the streets as part of The British 10K London Run, raising more than £5,000 for us.

The run took them past some of London’s biggest landmarks including Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Westminster Abbey.

Alex Seymour, who took part in the race for the first time, said: “I was nervous on the day and the run was tough, but the support from the crowds was immense. Church Army projects bless so many vulnerable people and it is a cause I feel personally connected with. I’d definitely take part again!”

If you’d like to join the Church Army team for The British 10K London Run 2015 on

Sunday 12th July, please email fundraising@churcharmy.org.uk or call 0300 123 2113.

The DNA youth group at our Selby Centre of Mission on the Flaxley Road housing estate has been awarded a grant of £1,050 from North Yorkshire Police’s Community Fund and a grant of £500 from Selby Town Council for

a new filming project exploring the difficult issues of debt, addiction and abuse.

The money will be used to buy filming equipment and will see the young people produce a film following the story of a family who suffer a breakdown

after getting into serious debt through a loan shark.

The youth group’s previous film, Despair to Hope, told the story of a young person whose life got into a mess after taking drugs.

It’s hoped the project will build the young people’s self-esteem, help them explore issues they are facing day-to-day and engage them with the Christian faith.

Evangelist and youth group leader, Neil Walpole, said: “Our young people loved making their first film and are very excited because the grants will enable us to make many more. Using drama in this way allows us to explore the heartbeat of Jesus in the issues that our young people face on a daily basis.”

POLICe FUNDING FOR yOuTh FiLM PROjECT

RuNNERS STEPPiNG OuT IN THe CAPITAL

THANK YOU – BuTTERFLy APPEAL jOyWe’d like to say a huge thank you to all of you who sent us your butterfly messages and donations as part of our ONe summer appeal featuring our project in the North of England, which works with vulnerable women and those involved in prostitution. To date we’ve raised more than £17,000. Brilliant!

“Hannah” who leads the project said: “We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you for your prayers and encouraging messages, some of which will carry us through the tough times while others remind us of God’s goodness and love.”

One of the women at the project said: “It’s lovely to know that people know we are here and actually care about us.”

Another said: “I can’t believe people have taken the time to post us nice letters from all over the United Kingdom.”

DuNDEE CENTRE OF MISSION LAUNCHeD

A new Church Army Centre of Mission has been launched in Dundee with the aim of developing and growing new expressions of Christian community and inspiring the church in evangelism.

The Centre of Mission is a partnership between Church Army, St Luke’s Church, Downfield, in Dundee, the Diocese of Brechin and the international development agency Signpost International.

The launch event saw people gather at St Luke’s Church for a special service where

the licensing of Church Army evangelist, Craig Dowling, took place along with the ordination to the priesthood of Church Army Evangelist, Rev Kerry Dixon.

Craig and Kerry will both be based at the new Centre of Mission, which will have three key objectives: to reshape mission and ministry at St Luke’s Church, Downfield; to develop a fresh expression ministry at St Paul’s Cathedral in Dundee; and to grow new expressions of Christian community and inspire mission and evangelism within the Scottish episcopal Church.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Brechin, Nigel Peyton, said: “Our exciting new partnership with Church Army brings fresh ideas and personnel. The contrasting projects at St Luke’s and the Cathedral Dundee are a beginning. My vision is for the whole diocese to become a more effective centre of mission!”

Mark Russell, Church Army Chief executive, said: “Church Army is committed to serving communities all over the United Kingdom and Ireland and we are thrilled to partner with the Diocese of Brechin to launch this new Centre of Mission. We hope many people in Dundee will have their lives touched by this exciting new initiative.”

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Left to right: Church Army Chief executive, Mark Russell, Church Army evangelist, Kerry Dixon, The Bishop of the Diocese of Brechin, Nigel Peyton, Church Army evangelist, Craig Dowling, Church Army Operations Manager, Neville Willerton.

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We’re very excited about our new website that’s just been launched! It includes a new evangelism blog which we will be updating regularly to

resource and inspire you theologically and practically. If you have a few minutes to spare, visit www.churcharmy.org.uk and take a look.

To celebrate his recovery from four strokes, Retired Evangelist, Peter Grieves, has taken on a 5K adapted triathlon in aid of Church Army and Burrswood Christian Hospital, where he was treated.

Raising more than £1,800, the challenge saw Peter walk 1K in a hydrotherapy pool, cycle 3K on an exercise bike and walk 1K with sticks.

Peter said: “The idea for the 5K adapted challenge came from my physiotherapist, Sue Pople, as it would give me something to aim for and help me to maintain my mobility. On the day, I was full of adrenaline which helped get me through, although I was pretty tired afterwards!”

Well done Peter!

PeTeR’S 5K ChALLENGE

NEWS FLASh! WeBSITe ReLAUNCHeD

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We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in Church Army September this year and have been celebrating and praying for our life-changing work.

Throughout September churches held special services and fundraising events to raise

awareness about our work and our evangelists visited 67 churches to share their inspiring stories.

Here’s what one church had to say:“Suzette’s visit and preaching went down

extremely well and was well received by all - especially as she is involved in one of the two projects in Newcastle that we are supporting this month. Thank you!” All Saints’, Gosforth, Tyne and Wear.

even though Church Army September is now over, we still have speakers available to book for your church or special event throughout the year.

Visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/speakers or telephone 0300 123 2113.

After seven years as Church Army’s President, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, is stepping down from the role and we would like to wish him every blessing for the future and thank him for all that he has given.

He said: “Church Army has shown and continues to show just how relevant and up-to-date the Good News is. You go where many would not dare to set foot, proclaiming the Good News in ever relevant, captivating ways. You have helped many realise their infinite worth when conventionally they tend to be seen as expendable. Yes, you help to put a smile on God’s face, a God who has little cause to smile, as he beholds our inhumanity to one another. Thank you for the utterly undeserved honour of being your president.”

Please pray for us as we now look to appoint a new Church Army President.

DESMOND TuTu STePS DOWN AS PReSIDeNT

ChuRCh ARMy SePTeMBeR SUCCeSS

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Last Christmas, Barbara found herself alone and homeless on the streets of London, but what a difference a year can make thanks to our Marylebone Project. here she shares with you her amazing journey of redemption and the Christmas Angels that helped her on her way…

ast Christmas, I was so angry with God. Inside I was filled with despair

and sadness. Why me? As i faced Christmas alone on the streets, I looked back on my life and wondered how i had reached this dark place.

Previously I had enjoyed a successful career working as an intensive-care nurse in Portugal, but when the recession hit, I lost my job and struggled to find another. So I decided to come to the UK for a fresh start and to use my skills, but in my first week here in London I ended up tripping over and breaking my ankle in five places.

With a broken ankle I couldn’t get a job and slowly my money began to run out. Eventually I couldn’t even afford my £10-a-night hostel. I had no family to help me as I’d been raised by my grandma and she had sadly died. I just didn’t know what to do and another lady in the hostel suggested that I go to the church for help.

At the time I wasn’t a Christian and I thought, why would the church help someone like me? All Christians do is pray. But I was so hungry and my leg was so painful I thought it was worth a try.

When I arrived at the church the people inside were having a big Christmas party and a lady at the door welcomed me in asking me, “Are you ok?” She gave me soup and hot tea and reassured me of her help.

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“ I was so hungry and my leg was so painful…”

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Ap

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alI was put in touch with a hostel for homeless

women run by Catholic nuns, where I was able to stay for three months while my ankle healed. As I walked through the door of the hostel on my first night, I noticed a picture of an angel above me and realised I had seen that same angel in one of my dreams a few nights before. It was then that I knew I was in the right place and that perhaps God did have a plan for me.

Slowly I healed, physically, mentally and spiritually, and I was lucky enough to be given a room at Church Army’s Marylebone Project for homeless women where I began to rebuild my life.

It was around this time that I realised I hadn’t been living the right way and that God had used my broken ankle to bring me to him. He had brought me to my lowest point and when I thought I was worth nothing, had shown me he loved me through the many Christians I had met. So I decided to be baptised.

As I was given the key to my room at the Marylebone Project, I cried so much. It was like a castle to me and I knew how lucky I was.

The staff at the project were so kind to me and with their help I was able to secure a job at a nearby hotel. When I wasn’t at work I also found I had a new desire to help others so I began volunteering to help women who had been trafficked. Meeting these women made me realise how small my problems really were and it gave me a new perspective.

Now, one year on, as I look forward to Christmas, my life is so different. I love my job at the hotel, I’m applying to university to train as a midwife and thanks to the Marylebone Project I will soon hopefully move into my own home.

I appreciate life so much now and pray to God each day to make me more like him. I am so grateful to all those who have cared for me this year. They were like angels sent by God to bring hope into my life. They saved me and thanks to them I can now look forward to a brighter future.

Will you be an angel to homeless women like Barbara this Christmas?To donate to our Christmas Angel appeal, please return the Shareit! coupon, call the fundraising team on 0300 123 2113 or give online at www.churcharmy.org.uk/christmasangel where you can also watch a film about Barbara and download our Christmas Angel craft activity for children.

“ As I was given the key to my room I cried so much…”

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GodChurchMissionONE

“...go and make disciples” Matthew 28:19

Bringing people to a living faith in jesus Christ is at the heart of our ONE series of films and stories as we celebrate how God is impacting people throughout this nation. We hear from Craig in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, who for years was involved in astrology and tarot cards, but after reading the Bible and meeting our Evangelist, Peter Bone, came to know God for himself

My mum loved astrology; she’d wake up in the mornings and the first thing she’d do was read her horoscope in the newspaper, which got me interested. About a year later, I bought a magazine which came with free tarot cards and I was fascinated by them. I went on to study psychology, the ego, astrology and Buddhism and it led me to know there was more of a purpose to life.

My wife and daughter started going to Oak House – a church on the Tanhouse estate where Evangelists, Peter and Lynne Bone, are based – and they sometimes came back with a piece of paper about Jesus. I used to laugh and to say “give over, you don’t need someone like that. You can decide yourself what you want to do.”

I wasn’t having it, I found it really funny. When I thought of Christians I thought of people who work, moan, go to church,

come out happy and get back to normal again. That was a typical Christian to me.

When I met Peter from Church Army, he invited me over for a brew and to chat about what each other believed. So that’s how it started.

Craig and Peter in The Tanner Pub

where Oak Church has a men’s

pool team

“ When I thought of Christians I thought of people who moan…”

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But after reading things in the Bible with Peter I began to realise, why shouldn’t there be a God? And as time went on I realised, of course there’s a God, and faith came into my life.

I’d seen something in the Bible about needing to follow the narrow path and all I could think about was how I’d been taking all these different paths in my life and I was going slower.

As time went on I said to Peter: “I will ask God whether I should read tarot cards. If I hear a yes I will carry on reading them, if I don’t hear a yes I’ll stop.” Since that day no one has asked for a tarot card reading! It just stopped. In the end I said to Pete: “I’m not meant to read tarot cards. I don’t need to do them any more.”

Another amazing thing that has happened since I’ve put my trust in God is that my epilepsy has improved. I’ve had epilepsy

since I was 15 – for more than 27 years – and I was having an average of two to 10 fits per month. For the past 18 months, I haven’t had a fit.

With Church Army it is so good to know there’s another side to church besides sitting there in a building. You’ve got to get out and take action. Church Army is always moving; always starting afresh and planting seeds. It’s like a river constantly moving, not like stagnant water gathering mould.

There’s nothing in the world that could ever take me back to where I was before meeting God, nothing in the world.

Craig continues to grow in his faith and is a member of Oak Church where he helps to lead the all age service each month. He is also involved in Oak Church’s men’s pool team, community café and film and

chippie nights.

To watch a film of Craig’s story, visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/one

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The Tanhouse estate

“ Since that day no one has asked me for a tarot card reading…”

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GodChurchMissionONE

“...go and make disciples” Matthew 28:19

Leslie, 84, from Shrewsbury, became a Christian later in life after attending an Alpha course at Trinity Church. he is now being encouraged in his “footsteps of faith” by Evangelist, Gordon Lamb. he tells us his story

My name is Leslie and I’m not a young man, I’m an old guy at 84. My wife, Hilma, suffers with Alzheimer’s and is in a care home and I’m fortunately able to visit her two or three times a week.

I always went to church as a child but moved away from Christianity when I was around 10 or 12 years old. I left God, but he never left me!

This went on for most of my life, but when I retired I moved back to the church thanks to my wife, who has always had a strong faith. She dragged me back into the church one day.

It was an Alpha course that was really that start of things – it is a wonderful tool for Christianity. Since then I’ve done three Alpha courses and there is always wonderful comradeship and friendships that blossom among people.

Since finding God again in my life I have changed. I now have an urge, an inner urge, to look around and to do some good. Nothing spectacular.

I stopped swearing – no naughty words! I stopped drinking and became teetotal. That isn’t necessarily a Christian thing, it was something my wife had done so I said “I’m going to join you darling, I’m not going to drink anything.”

It’s been ongoing and inevitably one gets

Leslie

“ I left God, but he never left me…””

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more involved in the church and more involved with the faith. And deeper in faith.

I’ve also recently taken part in the Sharing Your Faith course led by evangelist, Gordon Lamb.

As part of the course, on one occasion Gordon said: “I’m giving you £10 each. I want you to go out and buy someone a meal or something similar and I want you to report back next week about what you’ve done with your £10.”

I decided to think about it for a few days, as it sounds easy-peasy, but actually it’s quite a task.

Then, a few days later, I passed two

young ladies sitting on a bench eating a takeaway. I thought “maybe”.

I was emboldened! I walked up to these two young ladies sitting down on the

bench and I said: “That smells good. I’ve got to buy someone a meal.” They said: “Really?” They were quite interested. I said: “How much does your meal cost?” They said: “£3.50.” I said: “Look, here’s £10 that will pay for both of them, I don’t want any change, keep the £10.” They looked confused.

So I said: “Well I go to church and one of our leaders has given us an exercise to do and we’ve got to talk about God”. One of them said: “I believe in God, I really do believe in God.”

So I thought to myself, well this is getting better, and the other one said: “I sometimes go to church with my nan”. We were chatting away like that and this went on.

I said: “I’ve just had bowel cancer. Do you know there’s been so many prayers said for me that I’m convinced that it gave me a good result after the operation and I just wanted you to know that.” They said some nice things of farewell and then off I went.

These footsteps of faith that we take

continue.

To watch a film of Leslie’s story, visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/one

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Gordon Lamb

“ I was emboldened…”

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Be part of the journeyAre you passionate about evangelism? Do you want to be resourced to share your faith with others? Would you like to meet with other like-minded people? Find out how you can get involved in Church Army and become a member of our mission community

Church Army is a mission community open to all Christians who have a passion for evangelism and seeing people come to faith.

Our purposeWe exist to encourage, resource and enable you to share your faith with others through words and action.

Our visionWe are a movement of Christians across the United Kingdom and Ireland who are passionate about the Good News of Jesus Christ and who want to share it with their family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and with those in need in their communities.

We are a place where you can be encouraged, resourced and gather together with other Christians who are committed to evangelism.

Our values• to follow Jesus wholeheartedly

• a passion to see people come into a living relationship with Jesus

• a heart for those in need and living in poverty

• a pioneering spirit willing to push the boundaries so that others might come to know Jesus

• a love and commitment to the local church

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What others have to say…

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Hannah Seal, a children’s worker in Kent, said:

Being part of the mission community gives me a sense of belonging, which assures me that I am not alone and that my ministry is part of a big community. It enables me to serve God and develop my gifts, knowing that I do so with the prayers, encouragement and support of others.

“”

Nicholas Lebey, a Pioneer evangelist working with young people at Church Army’s Greenwich Centre of Mission in London, said:

‘I am delighted to be part of the mission community. It offers me the opportunity to learn from others, receive support, encouragement and prayers, all of which are essential for my ministry. The sense of belonging to a wider family and journeying together as a community is also exciting and enriching.

“

Michelle West, a mum, administrator and lay reader from Sheffield, said:

The mission community is such an exciting and diverse community to be part of. I am part of the Sheffield cluster which meets regularly and it is great to know there is a support network to enable each of us to offer our gifts and prayerful support to each other in our Christian lives, no matter what shape our ministry to God is. I feel truly blessed to be part of the mission community and am excited by what I can give and receive by being part of this loving and prayerful family.

Paul Hamilton, Rector of St Nicholas’ Church in Ingrave, Essex, said:

It wasn’t long after God found me that he used Church Army to shape and train me in His ongoing mission to find others. Being a part of the mission community means that process continues as I learn and make a contribution to our learning.”

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Community life If you become a member of the mission community you will be joining a nationwide movement of people. You can get involved in the following ways:

Local • Local Gatherings provide regular opportunities for members

to meet together for fellowship, prayer and mutual support.

• Support networks are available by phone or online for those who are unable to travel easily or live at a distance from other members.

• Mentoring partnerships enable members to support one another in evangelism.

Regional • Regional Celebrations see our local

gatherings come together for prayer and worship.

• Regional Days are led by Church Army’s Senior Leadership Team where news and vision is shared.

• Days of Reflection allow individuals from local gatherings to come together for times of retreat.

National• The Wilson Carlile Centre (WCC) in Sheffield is the home of

Church Army and is home to our office staff. The centre also has conferencing facilities, accommodation, chapel, café, garden and theological library. It is a place of hospitality, retreat and training open to all mission community members. To find out more visit wilsoncarlilecentre.org.uk

• Prayer Days encourage the whole community to pray for Church Army’s work and for people’s individual ministries.

• The National Gathering is where hundreds of us gather together for worship, fellowship and teaching.

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VolunteeringGiving your time, skills and creativity can make an amazing difference to people’s lives. Across the country we have hundreds of volunteers working alongside our evangelists or in our projects.

Praying togetherWe are committed to prayer and the following resources are available to help you:

• Through the day with Church Army is a daily prayer resource which offers simple morning, midday, evening and night prayers to feed those with a passion for evangelism.

• Church Army’s Prayer Diary helps us to pray for the whole community.

• Daily prayers take place at midday each day in the chapel at the Wilson Carlile Centre in Sheffield.

For more information visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/prayer

Give to us and fundraise for usChurch Army relies on voluntary donations to continue its pioneering work. Therefore, we ask our mission community members if they will consider supporting us.

Staying connected

Join us

• Church Army Connected is our regular newsletter for members.

if you are interested in becoming a member of the mission community, please contact our Mission Community Team by emailing missioncommunity@churcharmy.org.uk or telephone 0300 123 2113.

As our Annual Report for 2013/2014 is published and we look back on the past year, we’d like to share with you some of the highlights...

Coffee Stop at the Greenwich Centre of Mission in London led by evangelist, Nick Russell

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Thank you!This past year has been one of real encouragement and challenge for us and for those who we support. With increasing numbers of people struggling to afford rising food and energy costs, as well as changes to the benefits system, our homeless projects have experienced a great demand, providing 47,450 nights of accommodation to those most vulnerable in our society.

Yet our homeless projects are not just about offering people temporary relief. As we demonstrate the gospel practically to people, we journey with them for the long-term and we are pleased to have resettled 84 women back into independent living this year through our Marylebone Project in London. Praise God!

Of course we couldn’t have done any of this without you and your faithful support of our work, whether through prayer, volunteering or finance. We are so thankful to God for each and every one of you as together we partner in the gospel.

This year has also seen us developing the DARe strategy; Doing evangelism, Advocating evangelism, Resourcing evangelism and enabling evangelism. Highlights of this include our Chief Executive, Mark Russell, joining the Archbishops’ evangelism Task Group, which is working hard to equip those in the Church of England to share the gospel

and to bring people to a living faith in Jesus Christ. Alongside this, our Research Unit has published its report on the impact of fresh expressions as part of the Church of England’s Church Growth Research Programme, which has attracted significant attention national and internationally. We pray this research will be a blessing and challenge to the church.

Review of the year

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So as we look ahead to 2014/2015, please do continue to pray for our work with those on the margins so that many more may come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. It is only through a living relationship with Jesus that people can find true hope and everlasting peace. May all we do be for his glory and for the extension of his kingdom.

Annua

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Review of the year

Activities in England

Throughout England we have 244 evangelists and nine Centres of Mission, these are located in Bradford, Chester, Greenwich, Newcastle, Selby, Southampton, Thanet, Warwick and a project in the North of England working with vulnerable women and those involved in prostitution. We also run The Marylebone Project in London, one of the largest homeless hostels for women in the United Kingdom.

Activities in Wales

Nine of our evangelists are based in Wales, together with Church Army Residential Services for homeless young people and the Amber Project for young people who self-harm, both based in Cardiff. In addition the Valley of Hope project in the Welsh Valleys works mainly with homeless ex-prisoners.

Activities in ireland

Twenty seven of our evangelists are based in Ireland. This is an area where we’ve had a significant presence for a number of years, especially in inner Belfast and through our Craigavon and Lisburn Centres of Mission.

Activities in Scotland

Four of our evangelists work in Scotland. We also run the Grafted Project, based in Newcastleton and Hawick in the Borders which is one of our Centres of Mission. Church Army is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

Kidzone at Lisburn Cathedral in Northern Ireland run by evangelist, Karen Webb

Financesn Church Army’s total income

during the period 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 was £6.8m (2012/2013: £5.7m) a rise of 19%.

n Our donation income has increased by 7% (£125k) this year from £1.8m to £1.9m. Breaking this figure down, income from trusts increased by 3% (£45k), donations from individuals increased by 6% (£36k), and income from other sources including the Church Commissioners increased by 67% (£70k). The only area which saw a fall in income was donations from churches which reduced by 7% (£26k), £379k compared to last year £405k.

n Gift Aid income has reduced this year by 33% (£40k). In response, over the coming year, we will work hard to maximise the number of donors who Gift Aid.

n The biggest proportion of our fee income, 41% (£2.6m), is made up of housing benefit and Supporting People Grants from Westminster and Cardiff Councils, which funds our homeless projects. The homeless projects are also our largest area of expenditure at 49% (£3.4m).

n Income from legacies has more than doubled this year from £550k to £1.4m.

n Our Centres of Mission are our second largest area of expenditure and account for 19% (£1.5m).

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iNCOME £6,791,000

Investments .......................................... £747,000

Housing Benefit for our homeless projects ............................ £1,434,000

Supporting People Grants for our homeless projects ................. £1,168,000

Other fees for our homeless projects ................................. £62,000

Legacies ............................................ £1,426,000

Donations from parishes ..................... £377,000

Individuals’ donations ........................ £602,000

Donations from trusts .......................... £186,000

Donations to The Marylebone Project ............................ £228,000

Other ................................................... £561,000

n 87% (£7.0m) of our total expenditure is spent on our charitable activities with the remaining 13% (£1m) spent on governance costs, investment management and fundraising. Although this compares favourably with similar organisations it remains our objective to reduce the amount spent on supporting our work and instead to direct more into charitable activities.

n Total expenditure is in line with the five-year plan to reduce the overall operating deficit. This strategy was approved by Church Army’s Board and Senior Leadership in 2012.

A full version of this year’s Annual Report is available on our website www.churcharmy.org.uk/annualreport

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annualreportChurch Army’s report and accounts, for the year ending 31 March 2014, incorporating the Strategic Report.

EXPENDiTuRE £8,028,000

Centres of Mission ............................ £1,509,000

Fresh expressions ................................. £994,000

Other field evangelism ........................ £527,000

Training ................................................ £566,000

Homeless projects ........................... £3,383,000

Generating funds .............................. £1,007,000

Governance ......................................... £42,000

The information on these pages represents a summary extracted from the full financial statements of Church Army. The full accounts, signed by BDO LLP, are available on request from Church Army’s registered office. Copies of these accounts and the trustees’ reports have been filed with The Registrar of Companies.

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Since launching our new resource, Stepping into evangelism, thousands of copies have been distributed nationwide and we’ve been receiving some great feedback from churches, home groups and individuals. Find out what they have to say and how you can get hold of your copy.

“Stepping into evangelism is good stuff – I’ve bought 10 copies to give to my fellow ministry team colleagues. Everyone can find something useful with this resource.”

Arthur Dalgleish from All Saints Parish Church in Sudbury, Suffolk

“I have just received my copy of Stepping into evangelism and am suitably impressed with it. This is a great tool for empowering individuals and churches to become more mission-minded and more open and prepared to share faith.”

Peter Smith from Xpression Christian Outreach in Portadown, Northern Ireland

“The Methodist Churches in the St Neots and Huntingdon area are entering into a period with greater focus on sharing the Good News of Jesus. Therefore, it is with gratitude we became aware of Stepping into evangelism. Its clarity, accessibility and Bible base is appealing to us as we plan to initially use the material in informal worship and conversational settings over a period of weeks. It is with pleasure and thanks we commend Stepping into evangelism.”

Rev David King, Methodist Minister for the St Neots and huntingdon Circuit

“This crisp and short book will prove a brilliant tool for all Christians who yearn to share the Lord and love of their life, but somehow when it comes to the crunch and the cross, don’t have the nerve or can’t find the words. There are simple yet very pertinent guides on how to tell your story and how to lead people to Christ. I liked the book so much I immediately wrote to every clergyperson in our diocese, urging them to buy it without delay. It is great value, especially when you think how many souls it will bring to the Christ who is so priceless, he comes free.”

Barry Morgan, The Archbishop of Wales

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• Changing world, changing church – exploring fresh expressions of church

• Making the most of Christmas and Easter

• Community events and outreach

• Church Army’s story

To find out more and read a sample chapter, visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/sie

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Special offer for churches and home groups

If you’d like to order copies of Stepping into evangelism for your church or home group then now’s your chance! We are offering our Shareit! readers the opportunity to buy five copies of Stepping into evangelism for £15 and get another copy absolutely free along with free postage or to buy 10 copies of Stepping into evangelism for £30 and get another two copies free along with free postage.

To buy your copies, please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/specialoffer or telephone 0300 123 2113.

Alternatively, please fill in the coupon below and return it to us at Stepping into evangelism, Church Army, The Wilson Carlile Centre, 50 Cavendish Street, Sheffield, S3 7RZ. Please make cheques payable to “Church Army”.

My details are

Title: ................... Forename: ......................................... Surname: ...............................................

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

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

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

Year of birth: ...................................................................................................................................

Email address: ................................................................................................................................

Telephone: ......................................................................................................................................

i would like to order:

A pack of six booklets for £15 A pack of 12 booklets for £30

This special offer is limited to 12 copies of Stepping into evangelism per person and is only available to those living in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The offer is valid until May 31st 2015.

This offer is only available to those living in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

“The church is defined by its response to God’s call to mission and evangelism. This beautifully produced resource offers simple, practical and effective ways of responding to that call. I hope it will be widely used.”

David Chillingworth, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church

Stepping into evangelism is a 64-page booklet filled with practical advice, tips and workbook exercises to help you share the gospel with others through words and action. Chapters include:

• Why is evangelism God’s idea?

• How to share your story

• Who can you share your story with?

• Leading people to Jesus and what next?

• How can your church reach the community?

Funding for fresh expressions research

Following the release of our Research Unit’s statistical findings into fresh expressions of church in january 2014 at the Faith in Research Conference, the report has sparked discussion throughout the church nationally and internationally. This was particularly true after the report showed that, for every one person sent out from an existing church to start a fresh expression of church, there are now two and half more people.

The next stage of the research will see our Research Unit survey an additional 10 dioceses about their fresh expressions of church. The team will conduct telephone interviews with all the fresh expressions of church leaders in each diocese, taking them through a questionnaire that focuses on how they are fulfilling their mission and maturing as a young church.

This will allow our Research Unit to compare its findings with the initial 10 dioceses surveyed and discover how typical they were. The first 10, in the order surveyed, were: Liverpool, Canterbury, Leicester, Derby, Chelmsford, Norwich, Ripon and Leeds, Blackburn, Bristol and Portsmouth.

George Lings, Church Army’s Research Unit Director, said: “It is very important to get as full a picture as possible about the strategic contribution that the fresh expressions of church are making to the identity and mission of the Church of england. It looks like a good news story that deserves a deep and wide understanding. We are glad to serve the wider church in this way.”

It is hoped their findings from this next stage of research will be published in the spring of 2016.

To read the Church Growth Research Programme’s initial report on fresh expressions of church and to watch a film about the report’s findings, please visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/fxCresearch

Fresh expressions of church continue to be high on the agenda for our Research unit as it has been commissioned by the Church of England to carry out the next stage of work following on from the Church Growth Research Programme.

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What is Xplore?if you are 18-25 years old with a big heart for evangelism and want to get involved in helping those around you come to know jesus for themselves then Xplore is for you. Xplore enables you to remain living where you are while receiving weekly online training and support from the Xplore community as you put what you learn into practice. Throughout the year, there are also regular residential weekends and opportunities to take part in mission placements in Romania and across the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is run at a low cost to suit your budget and is perfect for those who are already committed to education or work, or simply can’t afford the time or money to take part in a traditional gap year.

• To find out more, visit www.xplore.org.uk or call 0844 585 3575.

Our Xplore training for young adults continues to go from strength-to-strength. Here, the Xplorers share some of their highlights

xplore a year in mission and evangelism

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Training

Venessa, 18, a college student from London said: “One day I was walking through my town centre when I met a girl and we got chatting. She said she’d been through a lot of difficult stuff in her life, so I asked her if she’d like to meet up in McDonalds to talk some more. I told her I was a Christian and that I’d love to explain about what Jesus had done in my life.

“As part of Xplore we’d been learning about not just doing evangelism one person at a time but instead sharing Jesus with groups of people. And it’s really amazing how God guides us as the next day I was walking down the road and saw two girls who I went over to and we got chatting. They made fun of my faith but I still got the chance to talk to them about Jesus and thought maybe I should also invite them to join me in McDonalds. Then, the next day in town I met a guy who I was talking to about Islam and so I invited him along as well.

“Another girl I met was a Buddhist, but she was so unhappy. We chatted for about two hours on the phone one night and at the end of the conversation I asked her if she wanted to know Jesus. She said yes and she gave her life to Christ!

“Right now, I’ve chatted with about 10 people at college or in the street who seem interested in meeting to talk about faith. I couldn’t have done any of this without Xplore – they are like a family who will push you in the right direction and pray for you.”

Olivia, 20, a student from Belfast said: “I volunteer at the international student café each week where our mission is not just to run a café but also to build lasting friendships with the students. At the moment, those I meet with are beginning to ask more questions about faith and I’m encouraging some of them to read the Bible for themselves. It has taken time to break into other cultures and to become trusted.

“Xplore is a community who support and encourage each other. We meet together online but each one of us is in our own context discovering evangelism for ourselves. Xplore has helped in providing me with a framework theologically for mission and the tools I might use. It also provides me with a community who pray for one another and hold one another accountable.”

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Xplorers reaching their communities

As part of Xplore, there is the opportunity to get involved in mission weeks throughout the year. One such event was organised by Xplorer, josh, 22, a youth worker in West Derby in Liverpool and saw the Xplorers and local church run a variety of outreach including gardening, car washing, night-time street evangelism and free lunch giveaways.

Josh said: “Neville from Xplore went with a lady from church who’d never done any evangelism before and they visited a fast food outlet. The guy who was serving was really surprised that people wanted to get to know him; nobody had bothered with him before. Both of them got to talk about how Jesus had impacted

their lives and pray with him. We got to go back over the next few days and chat with him some more and during his time off he joined in with some of the mission events. After the mission he started attending our church and is now very much a part of the family. He still struggles with many issues but we frequently pray together and he has a very real faith in God.”

One of the optional parts of Xplore is a trip to Romania. This gives those on Xplore the opportunity to bring along friends who are perhaps unsure of faith. It means being exposed to a practical expression of Christianity as well as living for a week among Christians who have chosen to spend their lives supporting some of the poorest communities in europe.

One of those invited along by an Xplorer said of his trip: “It has shown me that the most joy I can get from life is serving God and not myself. Before I went with Xplore to Romania my attitude was get up, don’t work hard and just look after yourself and do whatever it takes to enjoy yourself. I’d say now if an opportunity presents itself to do something for God then do it and don’t hold back at all.”

Steph, 21, an intern for Summer Madness from Newtownabbey said: “The highlight of going to Romania with Xplore was growing as a person and growing more confident in my faith. It felt like we went out as individuals but came home as a team.”

Caroline, 18, a student from Lisburn said: “The best thing about Romania was being with the kids, it was incredible to see how happy they were with so little. It taught me that we are so spoilt and yet we are not as happy as they are. It was an eye-opener. God has opened my eyes to the poverty that I’ve never been faced with before.”

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Mission week

R omania trip

Training

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“I’ve been reading the daily emails from Now a Christian and they have kept me believing that God and Jesus Christ can love me at least, even though I’m going through a traumatic time. Now a Christian is good because it is straight to the point and is sometimes funny. Thank you for reaching out to people to explain Jesus Christ. I am still learning and trying to let go of the past incorrect ideas I had about God. I just thank you and God for being there when I needed to read something like Now a Christian.”

“Now a Christian is a fantastic course.

It explains aspects of Christianity so

well. My vicar is incredibly enthusiastic

about encouraging members of our church

congregation to sign up for it as well as

introducing new Christians to the faith.”

Since it was launched in 2009, our Now a Christian email course has introduced thousands of people to Jesus and helped new believers grow in their faith. So we are very excited to be re-launching the Now a Christian website and making the course available as a mobile phone app.

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To find out more about Now a Christian:

• Visit www.nowachristian.org.uk and sign up for free via the website. You will then receive an email each day for five weeks

• Download the free Now a Christian app on your mobile phone by visiting the Apple App Store and searching for Now a Christian

• If you would like us to send you some Now a Christian postcards to hand out at your church or event to promote the course, please email info@churcharmy.org.uk or telephone 0300 123 2113.

This is just some of the amazing feedback we’ve had about Now a Christian and the impact it is having on people’s lives as they discover more about jesus for themselves.

Therefore we are pleased to be able to relaunch the Now a Christian website and launch it as a free mobile phone app.

We hope that through this relaunch, Now a Christian will reach even more people with the gospel and engage with the next generation.

Now a Christian is a free five-week course which has been specially designed to help people explore the basics of Christianity and what the Bible has to say about Jesus and how to follow him.

Topics include making sense of life, giving God a chance and why do bad things happen.

Marketing Manager, Neil Thomson, who has been involved in relaunching Now a Christian, said: “We’ve been thrilled to stand alongside and support so many people as they begin their Christian journey by using Now a Christian. The feedback has been a great encouragement to us and we pray many more will be nourished, fed and challenged by Now a Christian as this new app opens up the course to people wherever they are with their phones.”

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join us! To find out more about becoming a Church Army Champion Visit www.churcharmy.org.uk/champion email champion@churcharmy.org.uk or telephone 0300 123 2113

Our amazing team of Church Army Champions make a difference by doing things like:

• receiving and distributing our resources

• organising local fundraising events

• inspiring others to support us financially

• encouraging their church to partner with us

• promoting us through social media

Join the team of Champions!

Are you passionate about evangelism and seeing

people come to know Jesus?

Do you want to help people in poverty and those who are marginalised in our society?

Then we need you on our team!“ The best thing about being a Champion is the chance to raise funds for Church Army and to make it more widely known.” Sue Taylor, St Peter’s Maney, Sutton Coldfield

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Christians do their share of flooding the bathroom and losing the front door key, succumbing to illness and breaking their hearts. We are not people of faith because we want to magic these away.

But God can protect us from the harm that these things do to our inmost beings. God can deal comprehensively with the paralysing worry inside us that destroys our courage, our confidence and our sense of worth. And because God is addressing the worry inside us, we have the resilience we need to deal with the trouble outside us. With God watching, our true selves, entirely and eternally secure in him, can come to no harm.

If you are a Christian you need not fall apart in a crisis. You know what your first move is going to be. After that, take things one step at a time.

ibelong to the Automobile Association (AA) but not because I frequently call them out. I rarely

take the car past Tesco. I get queasy if I push the thing over 30mph and I’m not even sure what side of the road they drive on north of the Thames.

I belong for the security that one day, when I’ve broken down in the rain on a country lane, I know the first thing I’m going to do. I’m not going to despair. I’m going to ring the AA. After that, I’ll take things one step at a time.

That is precisely the reassurance that Psalm 121 tells us we can find by trusting God. Where do Christians go first for help? No need to think twice!

Church Army evangelists introduce people day after day to God the Protector. But what does God protect us from? Obviously he doesn’t protect us from misfortune itself.

By Peter Graystone

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“ I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber” Psalm 121:1-3

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