Until recently Greater Manchester was known as the ‘ASBO capital of the UK’ reflecting the high number of antisocial behaviour orders imposed across the city since they were introduced in 1999. Around half were imposed on youths under the age of 17.

But that’s beginning to change thanks in part to new partnerships between the police, communities, churches and organisations like The Message. Leading the way is the innovative Eden Bus project. Its two double decker buses show up weekly in some of Manchester’s toughest neighbourhoods, acting as a focus for long-term youth work, and a remedy for youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

Bus Project Manager Julie Mason explains: ‘On our estates in the city there are so many young people just hanging around, nothing to do, nowhere to go. At the same time, within our churches we’ve got hundreds of people who really care about the kids in their own communities. What the Eden Bus does is put the two together.’

Each bus is fitted out with hi-tech gadgets and games but more traditional games, including skipping, football and rounders, are just as popular: ‘We try to get kids involved in activities which cause them to chat to each other and interact with the adult volunteers on the bus’, adds Julie.

The Eden Bus team works in partnership with local churches who supply volunteers with a heart for local young people. Increasingly support is also being provided by police and local authorities who are beginning to see the bus as a powerful way of fighting nuisance behaviour and crime.

One partnership that has seen particular success over the last year is in the Limeside area of Oldham. There, local police turned to churches and third-sector organisations to help tackle problem behaviour among young people around Limeside.

In the autumn of 2009, neighbourhood police Inspector David Stopford began planning with local groups for a three-month dispersal order. But the approach was different from the beginning.

‘Dispersal orders are often initiated by the police on their own, without partners,’ Inspector Stopford told us. ‘It’s one tool in the toolbox to deal with young people acting in an antisocial manner. This is fine but what you can end up doing is simply moving a problem from A to B, and not really solving the root issues.’

‘What we tried to do this time is to work with partners to provide positive diversionary activities for young people. So it’s not just been about law enforcement, it’s been about providing good facilities for young people to go to, rather than hanging around on street corners.’

By the time the dispersal order began in December, several new initiatives for young people were in place, including the Eden Bus, strongly supported locally by New Life Church in Failsworth.

The partnership was a huge success. Inspector Stopford’s team saw a reduction of over 50% in calls about antisocial behaviour from the general public from December to March. Reports of associated crimes such as criminal damage and vehicle crime were also down. It’s a trend that he believes will continue:

‘It’s had a great impact. Right from the launch of the initiative in December, the young people have understood why we’re running this dispersal order and seen how groups of young people can be intimidating to other residents. They’ve also seen our motivation to put something on for them – facilities, initiatives, opportunities – and these things will continue even though the dispersal order has finished.’

The project has also succeeded in changing young people’s attitudes towards the police, their community and the church, believes Julie Mason:

‘We can certainly see a difference within the young people and the way they interact, both with us and the police. They were quite sceptical at first but that’s disappeared. They’re starting to come to the bus volunteers with issues and asking for support in the things they want to achieve in their lives. It’s a real testament to the people working on the project.

‘Barriers between young and older people in the community are beginning to break down. I’m delighted that the Eden Bus has played a part in that.’

To find out more about the Eden Bus project, visit www.message.org.uk/bus or call Julie Mason on 0161 946 2300.

…

This article first appeared in the Summer edition of Flow Magazine.

At this time of year many of our young people are still wondering what to do when their school or college courses come to an end. Those that haven’t got university places lined up are considering jobs, years-out or further training. Among these there will be many gifted and talented young people who have a heart for evangelism.

In our experience, many are just looking for that gentle nudge or word of encouragement to go on and develop their gift.

This year, Genetik is being refreshed and updated to meet the needs of a whole new generation of youth evangelists.

From September, we’ll be running two courses.

Genetik 10 lasts a full year and places students right at the heart of Message life. They’ll live with Eden families, getting involved in everything we do. Mornings are spent in classroom learning; afternoons are about practical training in

creative arts (dancing, DJ-ing, rapping etc) or urban ministry.

Genetik Elements is a part-time course spread over an academic year, allowing young people already working with churches to get a valuable youth work qualification. For one full day a month, students join with Genetik 10 trainees to study, supplemented by assessed placements provided in association with you.

Over the last ten years, our teams have trained over 150 young evangelists, most of whom are now working on the cutting edge of youth work here in Manchester and around the UK – seeing many come to know Christ and added to the Kingdom. Let’s work together to grow that number over the next 12 months.

Details and application forms can be found here.

* Worried about the cost? Money is not an issue. We’d much rather train the best than miss them because they can’t afford it. We have a bursary fund in place which can help cover course fees.

* But please hurry! Time is short. Because we need to line up tutors and accommodation in time for early September, we need to know

numbers as soon as possible.

If you can think of anyone who might be perfect for Genetik this year, please forward them

this link (http://www.message.org.uk/genetik) right away, or ask them to contact Mat

on 0161 946 2363 or mat.walls@message.org.uk

Since 2001, over 150 students have completed our Genetik course with graduates going on to a wide range of careers in youth work and evangelism.

The Genetik course with its two flexible streams is the best foundation for any young person looking to be equipped as an evangelist or youth worker.

Here’s what some of our past students have to say about the Genetik course (or watch them on our Youtube Channel).

‘The structure was perfect for me. Bible teaching in the morning, dance training in the afternoon, plus lots of opportunity for youth work – going into schools and youth groups.’ – Pippa

‘Amazing teaching, hands-on experience sharing God’s love. The course definitely changed my life.’ – Mike

‘It really impacted my life in a major way. It challenged a lot of my thinking. It took my life, stirred it up and pushed me out.’- Ryan (now in Twelve24)

‘To have so many people from so many different walks of life really helped me. Some of them are now my closest friends. Get involved!’ – Zoe

‘I was a brand new Christian when I did the Genetik Course. I had lots of faith but not much knowledge. Genetik sorted that out.’ – Rob (now in LZ7)

‘God challenged me in amazing ways. I’ve had the change to use my creativity and seen how God can use me to speak through it.’ – Vicky

‘It empowered me to teach people about Jesus and built my gift.’ – Lindsay

‘The best tutors in the country – people like LZ7, Blush, Band With No name – taught me how to do what I do now. It completely transformed my life.’ – Josh (now in Twelve24)

Read a recent part-time student’s view of Genetik.

Why Genetik? Let our graduates explain.

Can you recommend anyone for our Genetik courses?

Genetik 10, our new flagship year-out training course, lasts a full academic year (ten months). The course puts students right at the heart of Message life – living with families connected to the ministry or in Eden homes across Manchester. Daily training and placements with Message teams will equip young people to share the gospel relevantly and live evangelistically.

Two tracks will hone students’ gifting as performers or urban evangelists: Urban Ministry students will learn from intensive placements with Eden teams across the city. Creative Ministry students will get expert tuition to nurture their skill as dancers, rappers, DJs, musicians and vocalists.

[youtube width="560" height="340"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMuOOCSXw1g[/youtube]

Genetik Elements is designed to give existing youth workers fast-track access to official accreditation. Students attend ten monthly training days and are assessed in observed placements.

‘Since we began training young evangelists ten years ago, the world has changed,’ comments course leader Mat Walls. ‘More churches are offering their own “year-out” schemes. That’s why we’re giving the option for a flexible way to get the best of The Message’s experience in a monthly one-day format.’

Places are now available on both courses and potential students are encouraged to submit applications immediately for this September’s intake.

More details and links to application forms can be found here

Read a recent part-time student’s view of Genetik

Word 4U 2Day is the youth version of UCB’s Word For Today, written by Bob Gass and distributed throughout the world. Over 120,000 young people get each issue, published in one of three languages: English, Portuguese and Filipino.

The Message’s In Yer Face team rewrites each day’s content making it more relevant for young people. The team also narrates the daily UCB Radio version which is then distributed via podcast and accessible by subscription from iTunes.

Team leader Matt Britton comments, ‘One of the things we at In Yer Face love doing is writing Bible studies for young people…we also have a lot of fun recording them for UCB Radio, so that people can listen on the move’.

Read today’s Word 4U 2Day.

Sign up to receive a printed version of Word 4U 2Day in the post.

Subscribe to the Word 4U 2Day podcast.

Sign up to receive it by email.

***

What makes our schools bands different from ‘regular’ bands? We look back at the history and impact of our schools work, from The World Wide Message Tribe to Twelve24.

Back in 1988, Andy Hawthorne and his brother Simon ran a week-long youth mission at the Manchester Apollo. Thousands of young people turned up and hundreds responded – clearly God was at work.

Soon after, Mark Pennells approached Andy and Simon and started to work with them full-time in schools, singing and taking lessons, whilst music producer Zarc Porter honed his skills by working with Manchester’s popular rave bands in his home-built studio. What followed was ‘The Message to Schools’, a team dedicated to taking the gospel into Manchester’s schools, and a fore-runner of today’s Message Trust.

In 1992 Andy joined Mark as a rapper and communicator and Zarc as a producer and formed The World Wide Message Tribe (WWMT).

Andy explained their vision in an interview with Cross Rhythms in 1993, ‘God has called us to work in Manchester’s schools. There are so many kids here for us to reach with the gospel. Our long term aim is to have more than one team working in the area. We want our music to be as good as possible, but everything is a servant to evangelism.’

Over the next twelve years, the WWMT (just ‘The Tribe’ by 2001) performed in hundreds of schools weeks, concerts and festivals, released ten albums and led thousands to Jesus. The line-up changed over the years, as did their sound (and their outfits), but their vision remained the same: to share the good news in a relevant, meaningful way, to as many young people as possible.

In another interview in 1997, Andy Hawthorne commented, ‘All this stuff can easily become religion: trying to be funky, getting new haircuts and clothes, pushing the boundaries…it becomes the focus. If that’s an end in itself, it’s rubbish…it’s whether Jesus is at the centre of it. That’s what really matters.’

As the ministry developed, the band become overwhelmed by the number of requests to go into schools. In 2001, a second band, Blush, was formed to help cope with demand. The band is made up of young women who have a heart for teenage girls and takes lessons on issues such as self-esteem and ‘real beauty’.

In 2004, The Tribe took their final bow, but their influence didn’t stop there. Ex-band member Tim Owen took on the dream of forming a training centre (called ‘Genetik: The Tribe Academy) for potential new youth workers, musicians, and communicators. Tim and fellow ex-band members Lindz West and Andy Hawthorne regularly teach at the centre, which has seen two new bands form: LZ7 (fronted by Lindz) and Twelve24.

LZ7, formed in 2005, use a fusion of hip-hop, rock, free running and DJing in their shows. Two albums in, the band are planning an assault on the pop charts later this year: ‘This Little Light’, a song from their latest album ‘Gasoline’, has already received well over a hundred thousand views on YouTube and was used in a government-backed youth initiative, Shine.

Front man Lindz West comments, ‘When we’re in schools or at gigs, we want to be the best rappers, singers, drummers or DJs we can be, so that more people will get the opportunity to hear about our awesome God. We want young people to see, from our shows, that it is possible to live your dream and use the skills God’s given you in a positive way.’

Our newest band, Twelve24, are picking up the trail blazed by The Tribe, Blush and LZ7. They are named after John 12:24, where it says, ‘unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.’ The band is made up of three 20-somethings fresh out of the Genetik training programme.

Band mentor Tim Owen comments, ‘They’re taking the big issue facing young people today and hitting them head-on…they’re not watering down the gospel. They are committed to the young people of Manchester…their passion is growing by the day.’

In a culture where success is determined by how much money you earn, and how popular you are, The Tribe, LZ7, Blush and Twelve24 come as a shining light in the darkness. With a heart for showing young people that they are loved, and with Jesus at their centre, these bands show that they care more about the young people of Manchester than about selling records or rising to fame.

*Get The Message in your school*

You’re just one call away from having one of our bands or theatre company coming to your local high school. If you’re a church, please ask email Alan Saunders. For schools, please email Nathan Milnes. Our contact number is 0161 946 2300.

***

An exciting new initiative, building on The Message’s track record of community action, is in the pipeline for 2010.

The ‘Shine Your Light’ campaign will encourage thousands of young people around the country to do acts of kindness in their communities, showing off their talents and heart for serving others, and sharing the good news through words and actions.

The campaign is also tying in with the government’s second Shine Week, which showcases young talent and entrepreneurship through schools and young groups. Last year, Shine Week used Lindsay West as a spokesperson for the campaign and LZ7’s anthemic ‘This Little Light’ as their theme song. This, together with LZ7’s ongoing hard work in schools, garnered an increased profile and many new fans for the band.

‘This Little Light’ has been downloaded over 100,000 times on YouTube and social networking sites, attracting young people to LZ7’s own Facebook and MySpace pages. Many are using the sites to ask questions about Jesus and how to get connected with local churches.

The band have therefore decided to release ‘This Little Light’ into the UK charts on September 25, in the hope that as the song grows in popularity, this effect will be multiplied.

‘It’s not, repeat not, about LZ7 having a hit single,’ comments Message CEO Andy Hawthorne. ‘It is all about giving maximum exposure to young people being salt and light in their communities, and giving more young people the chance to hear the gospel for the first time.’

The Shine Your Light campaign kicks off at Easter 2010, building up to the single release date on September 25. Keep an eye on our website for the latest news.

CHECK OUT THE ‘THIS LITTLE LIGHT’ MUSIC VIDEO AT WWW.LZ7.CO.UK

How long have you been here? 8 years

What is your role/what do you do? My job is to maintain the Eden Buses.  I look after the engines, fill the fuel tanks, make sure there is oil and water, take the buses for MOT’s and Safety Inspections, and make sure that the equipment on each bus is in good working order. The Eden Buses are almost 28 years old now, and need lots of nurturing.

What’s your favourite part of the evening? When the buses come back at 10pm, because I know that they are back from their evening’s work and parked safely in the Bus Shed.

Please write a brief version of your testimony: I became a Christian after seeing a big change in my wife, and thought ‘I want some of that’. Things have happened in my life: I had ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) for eight years, and I was booked in for an operation, but it was called off because the problem had vanished! God is Good.

How long have you been here? I have been here since April 2007, but I also volunteered between August ‘05 – April ’07.

What is your role on the team? I’m the manager of the Bus Project. I develop the projects and co-ordinate leaders, drivers and volunteers. I also develop the vision for the Project within the community.

What’s your favourite part of the evening? Watching people from local churches build relationships with young people and seeing the volunteers’ confidence develop.

Can you give us a brief version of your testimony: The most amazing thing God has done in my life is transform me from a woman who would ‘cross to the other side’ when coming across groups of young people in the street, into being a woman who encourages others to engage with these groups- someone should do something!

How long have you been here? Since the beginning of September 2009.

What is your role on the team? I’m the Eden Bus Intern. I do whatever Julie can’t do or asks me to.

What’s your favourite part of the evening? Talking to young people, relaxing and listening to music with them.

Can you give us a brief version of your testimony: I became a Christian at Merseyfest 2003 (a Christian summer festival). I truly committed my life to Christ and it was then that God told me what I’d be doing for the rest of my life: Serving Him.