We’re sorry, but for unavoidable reasons, we’ve had to make the decision to cancel our Open Day on April 17, 2010.

We’ve got loads of other ideas to help our supporters learn more about what goes on behind the scenes here at The Message, and we’ll let you know about them as soon as we can.

In the meantime, if you have any further questions, please contact Jo Nicholson on 0161 946 2328 or by email

The Genetik residential course is the vehicle through which The Message delivers its unique blend of creative and urban ministry training to the emerging generation. The Course leader will ensure that the trainee’s learning experience is of the highest standard throughout their stay in Manchester.

Summary of duties:
Management of the day to day running of the course, one 2 one mentoring of trainees, delivery of the syllabus and 1 day’s teaching per week, development of the course curriculum and core activities, liaison with host churches, preparing material on agreed topics, hosting morning teaching sessions at our Training Centre, planning programmes and schedules.

It is essential that applicants have a high standard of bible knowledge, be strong in verbal presentation, have excellent interpersonal skills for the mentoring/discipling element of the job, be organised and able to handle detail.

For a full job description and further information, contact us at info@message.org.uk

On March 5, the Eden Bus played a supportive role in a police-led crackdown on crime in Brinnington, Reddish and the Heatons.

Eden Bus, operated by Manchester-based youth charity The Message Trust, assisted Operation ‘Super Vortex’ by providing a venue for officers to meet with the young people of Brinnington and explain to them what was happening as the police sweep took place. Young people were directed from the streets by police officers to the Eden Bus, situated in Brinnington Park.

Operation Super Vortex was designed to address the concerns and fears of local residents worried by anti-social behaviour – part of a police strategy to find long-term solutions to local worries. A total of 120 police officers were involved, resulting in several arrests and warrants executed,

Staff from the Eden Bus worked alongside members from St Luke’s Church and police officers organising a number of activities ranging from hi-tech gaming consoles to old-fashioned skipping games. Eden Bus is in Brinnington Park each Wednesday evening until 9pm for young people to meet up with their friends and meet new people.

This is just one way in which Eden Bus is working together with churches and statutory agencies to help to find solutions which help to build communities which have a ‘feel-safe’ factor.

Read a report of the initiative from local newspaper, Stockport Express here.

Looking for experience in Event Planning and Fundraising?

Events are a core stream of The Message Trust’s Fundraising Plan. The Events Intern will assist the Events Officer in the full range of fundraising and business networking events critical to the ongoing growth of The Message Trust.

The Events Intern will gain valuable experience in our busy PR & Fundraising Department, helping the Events Officer with the creation, development, execution and follow-up of The Message Trust’s events programme. Among other things this includes dispatching invitations and processing RSVPs, entering event participant details using the ThankQ database, helping the Events Officer with the practical organisation of fundraising and networking events on both a small and large scale and liaising with Message supporters at various events, on the telephone and via email.

As well as learning valuable event planning skills, you will gain a broad understanding of modern fundraising practice and have the opportunity to contribute to the planning and running of fundraising appeals.

This position is ideal for a recent graduate looking to break into a career in Fundraising or someone seeking experience in an event planning role.

You will need to be a real ‘people person’ with strong communication skills, a positive attitude and good attention to detail.

Hours: Full time

Pay: £100 weekly allowance

Reporting to: Corporate Events Officer

For an application form, please email Gail Adeniyi at gail.adeniyi@message.org.uk or phone: 0161 946 2300

Hours : Full-time (Temp/Perm)
Reporting to : Finance Deputy/Finance Executive
Salary : Dependent on experience and qualifications

Assisting accounts payable and receivable functions, cash handling and reconciling balance sheet accounts.  Calculate and post journal entries for depreciation, recharges, accruals and prepayments, assisting in the production of monthly management reports and accounts (including balance sheet; profit & loss; KPI’s).

It is essential that applicants have accounting experience and at least be AAT qualified or have equivalent qualifications and be working towards a professional accountancy qualification, e.g. ACA; ACCA;CIMA.

For full job description and application form, please contact us at info@message.org.uk

Main Duties:
To maintain & update purchase ledger, process invoices, reconcile supplier statements & ensure prompt payment of creditors, follow up supplier queries, administer the reconciliation of credit card and staff expenses and assist in accrual calculations for monthly management accounts.

Applicants must be AAT qualified or have equivalent qualification or experience, together with strong IT skills.

For full job description and application form please contact us at info@message.org.uk

Eden London officially launches later this month in a celebration at the city’s historic Westminster Chapel.

A line-up featuring Matt Wilson, Andy Hawthorne, Pete Greig (24/7 Prayer) and worship leader Tim Hughes will share the Eden vision and plans for rolling out the first Eden projects across the city.

The special event takes place on March 18 with doors opening at 7pm. Tickets priced £5 are on sale now and can be purchased online or by calling 08456 52 52 52.

Watch the promo video for the event below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Find out more about Eden’s national vision on the Eden Network website.

Do you have a heart for young people in our city?

The Message’s Business Support Group is looking for people who will join us in our mission to the hardest-to-reach young people in our city.

The BSG meets throughout the year in a variety of informal settings, including meals, receptions, backstage at live shows, afternoon roundtables and our annual awards ceremony, The Urban Hero Awards.

Each event features input from Message CEO Andy Hawthorne, latest news from the ministry and a chance to get a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at one of the nation’s most effective youth outreach organisations.

Anyone in the business world who shares our heart is welcome to join us.

Sympathy with our Christian ethos is essential but a personal Christian faith is not.

To find out more and for a personal invitation to our next BSG event, please contact Tess Hartley on tess.hartley@message.org.uk or 0161 946 2304.

(This article if from the Spring 2010 issue of flow Magazine)

***

Matt Hawthorne joined the Reflex team last year. Here are a few extracts from his diary during his first few months on the job.

There is a lad in our Hindley discipleship group called Evan*. He used to argue with the officers and get into fights daily (and had the ability to win most of them as well). He just had a lack of respect for everyone and himself. He recently became a Christian and the change in his attitude is astonishing. He now has a servant hearted attitude, helping out even before asked. Even the officers are shocked at the change. I asked him why, and he replied, ‘That’s what happens when you put your life in God’s hands’.

—–

One lad we first met in Forest Bank in September called Lee had a very hard exterior to begin with. He really didn’t want to open up, and kept himself to himself. However, after completing the music course, Lee asked to start our Uncut course, introducing the Christian faith. It was clear that he was really searching, but at the same time not wanting to be too vulnerable. A couple of weeks into the course we found out that Lee was in for a crime that had a lot of media attention. Because of this tragedy, Lee was understandably holding a huge amount of guilt, but praise God that Lee became a Christian at the end of the Uncut course, and is now part of a Discipleship course every Thursday.

—–

I was leading a Bible study in Hindley last Tuesday, going through Mark with eight lads aged between 16 and 18. Five of these guys had become Christians recently and are really growing and maturing. Three other guys had completed the Alpha course but not become Christians, but at the end of the session were really interested.

One of the three – Darren – was asking questions and said that he wanted to become a Christian but that he didn’t want to lose his youth. Basically, he wanted to be able to go out, get drunk and sleep around. Without the team saying a word, the inmates who were already Christians started to explain how Jesus had changed them. One told about how since becoming a Christian, he didn’t want to get drunk, take drugs or sleep around. After he’s hearing this, Darren gave his life to Christ along with another guy. At the end of the session the whole group were really excited about being ‘brothers’ in Christ!

—–

One of the managers from Styal came for a meeting, asking us to expand the work we do, thanks to the success we’ve seen over the last six months. On the wing that we work on regularly, there used to be an incident of some sort every week – either a riot, a fight, self-harming, or attempted suicide. But since Reflex started running sessions, there have been no incidents for six months! She loved both the youth work and the Christian work that we do, and asked us to do more in the prison.

*All young people’s names have been changed

Message CEO Andy Hawthorne’s latest book Hope Unleashed has made the shortlist of Christianity Magazine’s prestigious Book of the Year award.

The book, looking at the Gospel of Luke and what it means for mission today, is one of five books to be shortlisted for the award, and faces competition from bestselling authors Mark Stibbe, John Ortberg, Tom Wright and Nicky and Sila Lee.

The winning book will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Christian Resource Exhibition (CRE) at Sandown Park, Esher, on May 11.

Voting is now open and the first 1,000 votes will be rewarded with free entry to the exhibition between 11- 14 May. Five voters will also be in with a chance of winning £100 worth of Christian books.

Please take a minute to vote for your favourite book, and who knows, maybe Andy will scoop Book of The Year!

You can buy a copy from our Online Store for just £5.99 (25% off RRP) with free P&P.

Or get a free copy when you sign up to become a regular giver to The Message.