The Message Trust

Andy Hawthorne – Hope Unleashed

What has washing someone’s car got to do with the gospel?

Committed to bringing the Christian message to young people in his hometown of Manchester, England, Andy Hawthorne was shocked when a missions partner told him he shouldn’t just preach the gospel but also engage in community projects.

And it got him thinking: what, exactly, should the priority of the church be? Should it be the lamp on a stand – bold, unashamed gospel proclamation to as many as possible? Or should it be more salt and yeast – serving and blessing the vulnerable and the marginalized, with no questions asked?

The answer, of course, is both. Christians who truly want to follow Jesus should explain the good news with words – but also make sure to demonstrate the gospel through what’s been described as random acts of kindness. Written in a warm, passionate, nonreligious style, Hope Unleashed is filled with moving true stories and practical ideas and strategies for Christian mission based on word and deed.

PLUS

Matt Wilson – Eden: Called to the streets

Something is happening in our cities. A quiet miracle. Followers of Jesus are moving out of their comfort zones. Leaving old securities behind, they plant their homes and their souls in urban community. Young and old, single and married… they choose to live out their lives in the face of some of the highest rates of crime, social deprivation, drug and  alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy and unemployment.

Eden is about reaching young people right in the heart of forgotten communities. Matt Wilson tracks the amazing story, from early beginnings in the 1990s to the brink of a whole new generation of disciples on the streets.