Ian Henderson hosts with contributions from Andy Hawthorne and a look back on a fantastic year.

It’s the best half hour you’ll hear this month… Don’t you dare miss it!

Listen (and subscribe) to the Flow Podcast in iTunes

Listen to latest teaching and media from The Message on the main Message Podcast

The latest Flow Podcast is now out, packed full of great news from our work in schools, communities and prisons.

Hosted by Ian Henderson, this regular ‘behind-the-scenes’ update is designed to fuel your faith and guide your prayers for The Message.

Here’s what’s on the April 2011 Flow Podcast:

Andy talks about his hero George Verwer, who came to speak at our Message Prayer Day last month: ‘He has this incredible anointing of raw passion, humility, humanity, vision, faith… he’s like a whirlwind’. (Download his talk on the Message Podcast too.)

We hear the latest from the big Eden adventure: Our biggest need is workers – the opportunities are growing faster than the applicants coming forward. Could it change your life too?

In Yer Face (Christian) Theatre Company are in the studio talking about their brilliant two new members Emily and John, and how their hard-hitting theatre works at communicating the gospel in schools and prisons and encouraging people to discover God’s Word.

Lindz West from LZ7 talks about how the This Little Light single has ramped up their effectiveness in schools and how they’ve seen lives turned around in Manchester and further afield.

Don’t miss this fantastic faith-building hour – listen now!

View (and subscribe) to the Flow Podcast in iTunes

Listen to latest teaching and media from The Message on the main Message Podcast

Message Supporters now have a great new way to stay in touch with everything we’re up to in schools, communities and prisons: the Flow Podcast.

Hosted by Mission Director Ian Henderson, this regular ‘behind-the-scenes’ update will fuel your faith and guide your prayers for The Message.

Here’s what’s on the March 2011 Flow Podcast:

Andy’s just back from his sixth visit to Haiti with Compassion International. His last visit in January 2010 followed the devastating earthquake that killed over 300,000 people and left a million homeless. He talks about what’s changed in the last year, recounts some of the stories of hope behind the headlines, and share how we can pray for this struggling nation.

Ryan, Christina and Josh from Twelve24 are in talking about their new EP and sharing some exciting recent testimonies from their work in schools.

Andy reviews how the recent Urban Impact Tour went and talks about how the five Eden hubs are growing and word of Eden is spreading fast around the UK.

Matty Hawthorne shares some amazing stories from Reflex’s work in young offenders’ institutions and explains how the team sees hardened criminals change as they encounter God inside prison.

…and there’s a sneak preview of one of the most exciting initiatives we’ve ever been involved with – the Message Enterprise Centre.

Don’t miss it!

Listen now to the March 2011 Flow Podcast

View in iTunes where you can subscribe to the Flow Podcast for FREE

Listen to latest teaching and media from The Message on the main Message Podcast

Paul comes into Corinth in Acts 18, the next stop in his plan to carry the gospel to the places of influence. It was a plan that was massively effective and led to the whole world being blessed.

However I’m sure that as he entered Corinth, the plan didn’t feel all that effective. I’m sure that as he walked into this huge city, his heart was heavy. Because things seem like they’re starting to dry up.

At the end of chapter 17, in verse 34, Luke writes, ‘A few men became followers…’. We’ve never seen a word like ‘few’ in Acts before! It’s always been vast numbers – 3,000, 5,000, whole regions. But now, despite his best efforts, Paul’s only seeing a few men coming to know the Lord.

The finances weren’t coming through either. So Paul has to take up the profession he learnt as a rabbi. I’m convinced Paul did not want to be a tent-maker! We call our Eden workers tent-making missionaries – their call is to work at a job even though their hearts are in Eden. But Paul knew he was called full-time to preach the gospel and plant churches.

Six days a week, he’s got to work long hours making tents. But every Sabbath, he reasons in the synagogue, trying to persuade the Jews and Greeks. In short, Paul came into Corinth on the back of a lot of discouragement. When we get to that place, all we can do is be faithful. In the face of little fruit and lack of finance, all we can do is  pray and be confident that things will change.

Then, ‘suddenly’. There’s so many ‘suddenlies’ in the book of Acts. Verse 5 says ‘suddenly’ Silas and Timothy come from Macedonia. Praise God for people with the gift of encouragement – who breathe life into your discouragement! They bring amazing reports from the church in Thessalonica. They share with Paul how wonderfully the church there is doing.

They changed his whole view on things. Not only did they bring great news about a thriving church in Thessalonica, but they also brought financial provision.

Paul could devote himself now exclusively to what he wanted to do. People started  coming to know Jesus through Crispus – formerly a religious Jew. How this would have blessed Paul’s heart: the synagogue leader  becoming a radical evangelist and winning many.

Amazing, impossible things can happen once God starts to move on the back of our faithful digging in – even when it’s hard – proclaiming the good news, faithfully praying, doing what we’re called to do.

Then, to cap it all, Paul gets an amazing word from the Lord: ‘Don’t be afraid. Keep on speaking… I am with you … I have many people in this city.’

‘Many’ – we’ve gone from few to many again. Remember, this is virgin territory for the gospel. Out of 750,000 people in this debauched city called Corinth, there aren’t many believers yet. But the Lord speaks and this word carries him forward. He looks at the fields and sees they’re white for harvest. Many, many, many will come to Christ.

Whenever we go into a school, a prison, an Eden community, we need to see that there are many called to honour him. That’s what we’re all about.

Hear more teaching from Andy and other great communicators for free on the Message Podcast.

Roy recently stepped down as National Director of Youth For Christ (YFC) which he continues to serve as Vice President.

With Andy Hawthorne and Soul Survivor’s Mike Pilavachi, Roy led the Hope 08 initiative, a national campaign which united thousands of churches in evangelism and social action. He was recently appointed Executive Director of Hope Together.

Q. Roy, you recently stepped down as National Director of YFC in Britain. What are the things you will remember most about your 12 years in the role?

A. I have to say that the thing I remember most about any aspect of all my ministry is people coming to faith and being changed.

That and some of those unexpected situations where you wondered ‘Hm, is this going to fly?’, all of a sudden gets the breath of God on it and it works.

Hope 08 had a huge impact among churches in the UK. What’s next?

It’s been an amazing journey and I have to say that the favour of God was upon that project. At the evaluation we said ‘It’s not over, it’s over to you.’ But after that a number of people said to us, ‘Actually, you guys have been truly catalytic and you should carry on.’

When they asked me to lead it, I was nervous. You know, when you appoint a full-time youth leader, sometimes all the volunteers quit. I said, ‘I will only take this on, if we’re all in this together.’ And they all said ‘yes’.

We’ve got a consultation in January and from that we’ll go forward and make it happen.

You’re the second person to be named a Message ‘Legend’ having inspired us over the years. But who have been your role models over the years ?

I’ve been in Christian ministry for 28 years so there have been various people who have had an impact. Obviously, Billy Graham figures highly both from a distance and personally.

But equally, an elder in a local church, John, had a profound effect on me: investing in me, encouraging me, telling me to go for it, both as a young man and throughout my life.

What’s the secret to a long, enduring ministry?

In the end, you’ve got to believe this gospel has the power to change people’s lives. As long as you keep believing that and seeing that, that’s what causes you get up in the morning.

Plus recognising that what you do with your little life, connected up with the power of God can do something amazing.

What’s the outlook for churches and Christian ministries like ours going into the next decade?

At the moment, the mission energy in the UK church is as great as it’s ever been. I’ve been in ministry where people didn’t believe in mission and there was a lack of vision, but I think that the church is really on the front foot. It’s been a long time coming but I really think it’s there. People are ‘having a go’ and God is blessing that heart.

Mission is on the agenda of every denomination and stream. And people are saying, ‘Let’s find a way to work together’ and not duplicating or competing but being out to bless one another.

Can you say a little about your relationship with The Message over the years?

Andy and I have worked together on so many things and he has my complete admiration. He’s a guy who has a go, takes a risk. He’s a man of faith.

What’s been really important for me is that relationship of peers. Leaders need people who are leaders in their own right, working alongside each other, blessing each other, speaking well of each other.

‘Some men’s ambition is art. Some men’s ambition is fame. Some men’s ambition is gold. My ambition is the souls of men.’ William Booth

William Booth was born in Nottingham in 1829. At the age of 13 he was sent to work as an apprentice in a pawnbroker’s shop to help support his mother and sisters. He did not enjoy his job but it made him only too aware of the poverty in which people lived and how they suffered humiliation and degradation because of it. During his teenage years he became a Christian and spent much of his spare time trying to persuade other people to become Christians too.

When his apprenticeship was completed he moved to London, again to work in the pawn-broking trade. He joined up with the local Methodist Church and later decided to become a minister.

After his marriage to Catherine Mumford in 1855 he spent several years as a Methodist minister, travelling all around the country, preaching and sharing God’s word to all who would listen. Yet he felt that God wanted more from him, that he should be doing more to reach ordinary people. He returned to London with his family, having resigned his position as a Methodist minister.

One day in 1865 he found himself in the East End of London, preaching to crowds of people in the streets. Outside the Blind Beggar pub some missioners heard him speaking and were so impressed by his powerful preaching that they asked him to lead a series of meetings they were holding in a large tent.

The tent was situated on an old Quaker burial ground on Mile End waste in Whitechapel. The date for the first meeting was set for 2 July, 1865. To the poor and wretched of London’s East End, Booth brought the good news of Jesus Christ and his love for all men. Booth soon realised he had found his destiny. He formed his own movement, which he called ‘The Christian Mission’.

Slowly the mission began to grow but the work was hard and Booth would ‘stumble home night after night haggard with fatigue, often his clothes were torn and bloody bandages swathed his head where a stone had struck’, wrote his wife. Evening meetings were held in an old warehouse where urchins threw stones and fireworks through the window. Outposts were eventually established and in time attracted converts, yet the results remained discouraging-this was just another of the 500 charitable and religious groups trying to help in the East End.

It was not until 1878 when The Christian Mission changed its name to The Salvation Army that things began to happen. The impetus changed. The idea of an Army fighting sin caught the imagination of the people and the Army began to grow rapidly. Booth’s fiery sermons and sharp imagery drove the message home and more and more people found themselves willing to leave their past behind and start a new life as a soldier in The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army soon spread abroad and by the time Booth was ‘promoted to Glory’ in 1912, was at work in 58 countries. Today, the Salvation Army is at work in 120 nations and one of the world’s largest Christian charities.

‘The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.’ William Booth.

With thanks to the Salvation Army.

George founded Operation Mobilisation in 1957, which today has over 5,000 missionaries in 110 countries around the world, motivating and equipping people to share God’s love with millions of people each year.

He handed over the international leadership of OM in 2003 and today travels around the world as an advocate for global mission.

Q: You’re the first in our ‘Legends’ series of heroes of the faith. Who have been your role models over the years?

A: I came to Christ from a non-Christian background through the ministry of Billy Graham. He was my first major role model. Oswald J Smith, through his writing, particularly The Passion for Souls was a huge inspiration in terms of global mission vision.

By 70, most people in the UK have retired but not you! What’s the secret to your amazing energy levels?

Energy is a gift from God. I’ve always taken good care of my health but in the end the calling of God on my life is such a motivating thing. To think that someone like me could be working for the King of Kings… whatever I do, I do ‘heartily as unto the Lord’.

You’ve mobilised hundreds of thousands of people for mission. What advice do you give most often when people come to you with a heart for mission?

It’s Galatians 2:20. To me, the heart of Christian ministry is our walk with God. My passion is true spirituality: integrity, reality, purity, which to me means I am crucified with Christ. I don’t think it ends there though – it goes on to caring for the poor, reaching people with the gospel and loving your neighbour.

OM has been in existence over 50 years – The Message isn’t even half that age yet! What insight could you give to a ministry in young adulthood?

I think it’s about growing in spiritual maturity. Those who think they are already spiritually mature should guess again. We have to continue to grow in grace and that means being ready for change. For example, six years ago I totally turned over the leadership of OM. I’m not on the committee, not leading from behind. I’m not even an advisor. That was my choice. Other founders have found it difficult to do that.

Wherever you go, you promote books and give away thousands of copies a year. Why is literature distribution so important to you?

Well, I had a lot of questions as a young Christian – I still do. Billy Graham’s Peace With God answered so many questions I had as a young man. Books open our eyes to the people of the world and they can mentor a person as much as other people – it’s not either-or, we need both. When it comes to books and films I’m a spiritual glutton! God’s helping me with that.

I understand you are coming up on your 50th wedding anniversary to Drena. Congratulations! But what’s the key?

I believe God gave me the right wife! We’re very different but we have the same focus – we are both committed to Jesus and missions.

What’s the story behind your map-of-the-world jacket?

God gave me that jacket 25 years ago and I’ve been through 200 of them. I just auctioned one off for £1,000 in South Africa. It’s just a great visual device.

Recently staff at The Message watched you give the jacket you were wearing to Andy. What made you do that?

Only a very important person would get one free! It’s a way of me thanking and honouring him. I’ve shared many of my experiences with Andy over the years and I can see that he is a long-distance runner. We both are.

In Acts 9:31 we read how the church enjoyed five types blessing.

It says, ‘Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.’

Anybody like the sound of that?

The passage leading up to that verse – from the middle of verse 19 – give us some major hints about how it came about.

We get to see what Paul was up to in the three year build up to verse 31. There, we can find a model for a church that grows, a church that succeeds and a church that breaks through.

Right after his conversion, Paul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus (v.19). He knew instinctively as a believer, he belonged with his brothers and sisters. Even though only days before he’d been trying to wipe them out, he now wanted to be with God’s people.

At once, he began to preach (v. 20). He wasn’t just called to the church – he was called to those outside the church. That’s the other sure sign that someone really does know Jesus .

And Paul grew (v.22). That’s supposed to be our expectation as a people. That we move from one degree of glory to another.

One of the things I’ve loved about hosting a venue at New Wine North over the past couple of years has been being there with a team. And a team that is growing in their gifts. I love that and I want to see that more.

Paul grew so powerful, in fact, that the Jews conspired to kill him and he had to make a swift exit in a basket!

Can you imagine how much Paul must have been looking forward to going back to Jerusalem and meeting the church there and telling him their story.

Moreover they were afraid of him (v. 26), and wouldn’t even believe he was a disciple.

Praise God at times like that for people like Barnabas – a guy whose nickname was ‘son of encouragement’. Barnabas takes this massive flyer on Paul and becomes his PR man (v. 27).

I want to be that kind of individual and ministry which sees potential where others don’t. Who believes in people the rest of the church rejects. I want to be an encourager, in the face of all the discouragement that comes from without and within.

In short I guess there are only three big questions we need to ask ourselves about whether we’re growing in God. Looking back on when we first became Christians: Do we love the church more? Do we love the lost more? Do we love Jesus more?

Hear more teaching from Andy and other great communicators for free on the Message Podcast.

The Summer edition of Flow Magazine is out now! 

This issue, we look back on ten years of ‘word and deed’ evangelism since Message 2000 and look forward to this summer’s Shine Your Light campaign. We also find out how Eden Bus is working in partnership with local authorities and churches to fight antisocial behaviour in communities around Manchester. Plus all the latest news, great teaching from Andy Hawthorne and Simon Guillebaud, and much more.

Thanks to supporter David Esther from Upton, Wirral, who emailed us to say:

You have done it again!  “Flow” is a great publication!

When “Flow” arrived in the post this morning, I immediately opened it and read it cover to cover – unlike any other Christian publication that I receive regularly (including one that is lying unopened alongside my computer now!).  Why did I open it so quickly? It was because I read the first two issues and I therefore knew that “Flow” was worth reading … its freshness and readability make “Flow” a great publication.

For an organisation that communicates so well by electronic means – especially through your weekly prayer letters, it must have been a big decision for “The Message” to produce a new hard copy magazine after so many years.  For me, it was a decision that has worked!

Flow is being sent to all our regular supporters by post. You can also read the new issue here.

come to an end. Blush scooped an exclusive Gospel Music Award (GMA) for Best Group in December 2009, fighting off competition from such big names as the London Community Gospel Choir, Four Kornerz and Hillsong London.

In a series of ‘God-incidences’, each band member has seen exciting things happening in their personal lives which have resulted in the band deciding to call it a day.

Speaking about the decision, Andy Hawthorne commented, ‘In every way Blush is coming to a good end. Jess and Jim are expecting their first baby at the beginning of June; Holly is love-struck, getting married to James and moving to London to be a part of a church plant; Pippa is going to work for her church, Ivy Manchester; and Nic will be continuing the heartbeat of Blush through a new music venture.’

Band leader Jess Cook explains from the band’s perspective: ‘Since last year, we’ve heard God very clearly speaking to us about “only doing what only we can do”. That’s enabled us to focus our work on helping girls and young women see their true value in God’s eyes and for that reason, this year has been the band’s most effective and authentic ever.

‘We’re very strong as a four. But we’ve come to realise that God is now moving us all on individually.

The heart for young women and girls continues just as strong as ever through each of our ongoing journeys and we are planning new things to help the girls we’ve worked with over the years.’

‘Of course it’s a sad day for everyone at The Message,’ added Andy Hawthorne. ‘But it’s been an extremely fruitful seven-year journey for the girls.’

The band  ended this chapter of their lives with a farewell gig on May 7 2010 at Wythenshawe Forum that was an awesome send-off.