Bishop of London calls for “human compassion” at Thatcher funeral

The death of Margaret Thatcher on April 8 provoked reaction from people across the globe.

Some recalled the strength and fervour of the UK’s first female prime minister, while others focused on her perceived failings and injustices. 

However, at her funeral on April 17, she was remembered as a wife, mother and friend as well as a politician.

The Bishop of London, Right Rev Richard Chartres, said: “Today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Thatcher are here at her funeral service. Lying here, she is one of us, subject to the common destiny of all human beings.

“There is an important place for debating policies and legacy; for assessing the impact of political decisions on the everyday lives of individuals and communities. “Parliament held a frank debate last week. But here and today is neither the time nor the place. This, at Lady Thatcher's personal request, is a funeral service, not a memorial service with the customary eulogies.

“At such a time, the parson should not aspire to the judgements which are proper to the politician; instead, this is a place for ordinary human compassion of the kind that is reconciling. It is also the place for the simple truths which transcend political debate. Above all it is the place for hope.

“But it must be difficult for those members of her family and close associates to recognise the wife, mother and grandmother in the mythological figure. Our hearts go out to Mark and Carol and their families, and also to those who cared for Lady Thatcher with such devotion in her last years.”

Bishop Chartres recalled Baroness Thatcher’s attitudes to the people she worked with during her political career. “The letter from a young boy early on in her time as prime minister is a typical example,” he said. 

“Nine-year-old David wrote to say: Last night when we were saying prayers, my daddy said everyone has done wrong things except Jesus. I said I don't think you have done bad things because you are the prime minister. Am I right or is my daddy?

“Perhaps the most remarkable thing is that the PM replied in her own hand, in a very straightforward letter, which took the question seriously: However good we try to be, we can never be as kind, gentle and wise as Jesus. There will be times when we do or say something we wish we hadn't done and we shall be sorry and try not to do it again… 

If you and I were to paint a picture, it wouldn't be as good as the picture of great artists. So our lives can't be as good as the life of Jesus.”

The Bishop also reflected on Margaret Thatcher’s incredible rise to power: “It is easy to forget the immense hurdles she had to climb. Beginning in the upper floors of her father's grocer's shop in Grantham, through Oxford as a scientist and, later, as part of the team that invented Mr Whippy ice cream, she embarked upon a political career.

“By the time she entered parliament in 1959 she was part of a cohort of only 4% of women in the House of Commons. She had experienced many rebuffs along the way, often on the shortlist for candidates only to be disqualified by prejudice against a woman; and, worse, a woman with children.

“She applied herself to her work with formidable energy and passion. But she continued to reflect on how faith and politics related to one another.

“In the Lawrence Jewry lecture, she said that ‘Christianity offers no easy solutions to political and economic issues. It teaches us that there is some evil in everyone and that it cannot be banished by sound policies and institutional reforms…

'We cannot achieve a compassionate society simply by passing new laws and appointing more staff to administer them.’

“She was very aware that there are prior dispositions which are needed to make market economics and democratic institutions function well: the habits of truth-telling, mutual sympathy, and the capacity to co-operate.”

You can read the full funeral address from Bishop Chartres here. 

Keep your bathroom clean!

I couldn't think what to blog on when I sat down to write this morning, so I cleaned the bathroom instead. And in doing so, I found the perfect topic to cover. Because to me, cleaning the bathroom and the Christian walk have a lot in common.

I don’t know about you, but I put off cleaning the bathroom. I tell myself I’ll ‘do it tomorrow’; that old chestnut. The more gunk that builds up, the less I want to clean it and the more unpleasant each shower or toilet visit becomes.

A similar thing can happen in our lives. Often when we let sin and worry take over, we inadvertently shut God out of our lives. If we don’t deal with it quickly, the effects can build up and make us feel as though He is far away. This becomes a cycle, because we now feel it will be more difficult to put things right.

So here are a few pointers to encourage and motivate you, both to keep your bathroom clean and to examine any unwanted ‘build-up’ in your heart.

1)    The process is often messy, but the results are satisfying. I can’t pretend I enjoy pulling clumps of hair out of the plug hole or scrubbing the toilet bowl, but when you’re done and you survey your handiwork, there’s a real sense of achievement. Likewise, facing up to the things in your life that you’d rather not have to deal with can be unpleasant, and even painful. But when you allow God to cleanse you of anger, unforgiveness or whatever else is clogging up your heart, the relief is palpable.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

2)    The more frequently you do it, the easier it becomes. If you don’t clean your bathroom for six months, you’re in for some serious grossness! Dirt and dust soon pile up and you’ll scrub for hours just to see what colour your bathroom suite once was if you don’t clean it regularly. Likewise, failure to deal with our issues promptly tends to lead us into further difficulties and away from the help God is offering us. Deal with sin straight away and keep a short account with God – He will wipe the slate clean every day if you ask him to. And please clean your bathroom more than biannually!

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

3)    The cleaner it is, the more it will bless others. Have you ever been to someone’s house and found their bathroom to be dirty, lacking in soap and abundant in odours? Public toilets, of course, are the worst offenders. Cleaning your bathroom may seem like a thankless task (your family will never notice), but guests you invite round will notice you’ve made an effort. In the same way, staying close to God will bless the people around you because you are able to demonstrate His love without any obstacles getting in the way. The Bible says that when we walk in the Spirit, we bear fruit. Fruit isn’t meant to be eaten by us (have you ever seen a tree eat its fruit?); it’s there to be enjoyed by others.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).

4)    Deep cleaning reveals dirt we’re not even aware of. We can all see the obvious dirt that collects in a bathroom, but you might not immediately see the mould in the corner behind the bin or the dirt that collects between the toilet seat and seat cover (isn’t that the most irritating thing to clean?!). Similarly, when we start to put things right with God, He reveals things that are harbouring in the recesses of our hearts; things we thought we had dealt with or didn’t realise were there in the first place. Be encouraged that the Holy Spirit can reach even the most difficult nooks and crannies of our hearts, leaving us spotlessly clean and ready to bask in God’s presence.

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:22-23).

5)    The right resources can make all the difference. Cleaning your bathroom with a dirty, moth-eaten sponge is going to lengthen the process at best, and lead to a botch job at worst. Investing in a few bits and bobs, for example a mildew-removing spray and a decent mop, can make light work of it. As Christians, there are thousands of resources out there. The first of course is the Bible, so if you don’t have one, get one – and read it every day. It’s also worth getting hold of some decent books/DVDs/podcasts to inspire, challenge and encourage you in your Christian walk. If you don’t know where to start, ask someone you trust to recommend a few.

Finally, remember how beautiful it feels to have a shower in a freshly cleaned bathroom? That’s how we can feel spiritually every day when we walk closely with God. Jesus has already paid for our sins and our sickness, so we are free to live a free and fulfilled life each and every day. Don’t put it off!

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). 

Read more from Joy in the upcoming issue of Liberti magazine.

(S)he that cannot obey cannot command!

I like this Benjamin Franklin saying, but I must admit that obedience and submission don’t come naturally to me… I like getting my own way far too much. Now I'm studying these concepts at Bible College and it’s challenging stuff.

When I was young and my mum told me not to do things, I often did them anyway and learnt the hard way that she was right all along. I now know that she told me not to do them because she wanted the best for me, not (as I thought then) because she wanted my life to be boring. I'm discovering the same thing about God’s commands.

Growing up in a Christian home, I also knew I should obey those in authority: parents, teachers, church leaders and bosses. I publicly did and said the right things (obedience) a lot of the time as a child/adolescent. 

Submission has been harder for me to learn. Often I outwardly did as I was told, but my heart wasn't in it. I complained about things (sometimes to myself, sometimes to others); I obeyed, but I wasn't fully submitted. This is something I'm still working on.

I am discovering, though, that God’s grace (ability) is what makes us able to obey – we don’t have to do it in our own strength (although we do still have to choose to obey). Jesus laid down His will entirely to do the Father’s will, and this is how we should live. I am also starting to realise that we should be obedient because we love God (John 14:15), and that this obedience should be instant and joyful. 

One area I am particularly challenged in is my driving. When I'm behind the wheel I take on my (earthly) father’s personality. I drive too fast, I get angry; I have even been known to swear. I disregard parking notices and speed limits. In short, I disobey the law and by doing so, I put myself and others at risk.

Initially, I laughed this behaviour off, but I soon came to realise that I wasn't just disobeying the law; I was disobeying God. If we disobey the laws of those in authority – who are in fact ordained by God Himself (Romans 13:1) – we disobey the One who is over all. And until we learn to yield to authority, we will never be good leaders ourselves.

I know that with the Holy Spirit’s help I can put off the old (wo)man with her anger, foul language and so on, and allow Him to renew my mind (Colossians 3:8-10). And the more I meditate on the Word and listen to the Spirit, the easier it becomes to obey and to emulate the personality of my Heavenly Father.

Eventually this should become a natural reaction rather than an adopted or forced behaviour. And Bristol’s roads will be all the safer for it!

Read more from Joy in the next issue of Liberti magazine.

Sing like you mean it

The Dunamis Gospel Choir came to my church last Sunday night.

As I walked into the building – slightly on the late side – my ears were embraced by the sound of young, tender voices.

That didn’t last long, because the chorus suddenly kicked in and the volume skyrocketed. The stage was filled with young, smiling faces; faces that were singing their hearts out.

Song after song graced the place, with completely different vocal arrangements for each. There were solos and a cappella harmonies galore. These kids could sing and they weren’t afraid to show it. There were African drum beats, scintillating saxophone notes and delicate flute twiddles (sorry, I don’t know the technical term).

Then all of a sudden, the choir members filed off the stage and sat down! I was gutted…

But it wasn’t over – they were just clearing the stage for a dance performance. Now I already knew these kids could sing, but I had no idea they were about to wow us with their moves too. Suffice to say they pulled it off.

Another musical selection followed, with a powerful sketch and some great poems thrown in for good measure.

But it was the final section that really blew my mind. Several of the songs literally gave me shivers up my spine; not only were they talented, these kids’ voices (and instruments) were powerfully anointed.

I should add that throughout the performance, members of the choir took it in turns to share a bit about their past and the difference the choir, its founder Daniel (‘Pastor D’) and getting to know Jesus had made in their lives.

Among them were ex-gang members, kids who had been badly treated by parents, and young people who had had substance abuse problems – some of them were as young as 12.

At the beginning I assumed they were all from Christian homes, or had at least become Christians before they joined the choir. But as the evening wore on (or glided by, more accurately), it became clear that this was an ongoing work.

These kids didn’t give polished ‘testimonies’; their stories were raw and from the heart. They were genuine, and they made me cry. In fact, they made most of the audience cry… and they even made each other cry. It was beautiful to see how much they rejoiced in each other’s victories and turnarounds.

Pastor D had clearly selected a group of kids who had basic musical talent and who needed to be part of something that was bigger than their own lives; to give them something to work towards and develop into; a family where older guys lovingly embraced younger guys and girls stood hand in hand rather than backbiting and tearing each other down.

The genius of his vision is that by including them regardless of their beliefs, this choir is transforming people’s hearts from the inside out. Indeed two of the choir members had come to Christ in the two or three days leading up to the event and another that very night. (I actually heard since writing this from Pastor D that this figure is closer to seven!)

I’ve never, and I mean never, seen kids who were happier and more fulfilled than these rough-around-the-edges teens from East London.

I’m not going to say every note was perfect, that each changeover was absolutely seamless or that the words spoken were breathtakingly eloquent. I will say, though, that I was moved beyond all expectation by the work that was being done in their lives, and by the way it was spilling over into the lives of others.

As they spoke out what God had done in their lives, they reaffirmed to themselves what they believed. They encouraged their friends and fellow choir members. And they blessed everyone in the building’s socks off. I just wish all Christians were as beautifully honest and open to the Holy Spirit as they were.

Mark my words, these kids will be at the helm of a new generation of great preachers, singers and performers. The legacy Pastor D is creating will be far-reaching and impossible to quench.

Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Read more from Joy in the next issue of Liberti magazine.

What legacy are you leaving?

In his first major speech as Prime Minister, David Cameron set out his Olympic legacy aspiration:

"Make sure the Olympics legacy lifts East London from being one of the poorest parts of the country to one that shares fully in the capital's growth and prosperity."

The word “legacy” was bandied about throughout the Olympic period and, on August 12, Sebastian Coe was appointed Olympics legacy ambassador.

Cameron told the BBC there was a "huge opportunity" to build the legacy for the Games. He said that Lord Coe had "done a brilliant job delivering the best Games ever" and added: "Now I want him to help me deliver the best Olympic legacy ever."

This got me thinking about the meaning of “legacy”. It often relates to money, and there's an element of this here, but surely there has to be more to it. Well according to dictionary.com, it means: “a gift of property, especially personal property, as money, by will; a bequest; anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor”. Think Steve Redgrave handing over the torch for the seven young athletes to light the cauldron at the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Having just finished a full week helping out at a holiday Bible club, I’ve had this word at the back of my mind for a while. People are always complaining about kids today, but in many ways they are simply the product of the legacy we have created for them. 

If we are passing on negative thoughts, anger, bitterness and foul language, how exactly do we expect them to behave? It’s our job to leave them a legacy during our lifetimes that will last well after we are gone. And I’m not just talking about school sports fields (although I do think they’re important!)

The kids at the club were enthusiastic, intelligent and inspirational. It was an absolute privilege being able to spend time with them and to encourage them to follow their dreams.

But with the week over and these kids preparing to go back to school, I hope they’ve taken away principles that will set them up for the rest of their lives: how to overcome real hurdles, finish the race and pass on the baton. I hope they have new ideas about what life is all about and about fixing their eyes on Jesus; about working as part of a team rather than just looking out for themselves; and about how much God loves them.

I don’t know about the kids, but I’ve certainly come away with a new outlook on life and am determined to a) appreciate the legacy that has been left for me by others and b) to leave a legacy that will bless others in the years to come.

In 30 years’ time, the Olympics will be a fond but distant memory, but I hope these amazing kids will remember some of things they’ve learnt and will go on to develop their own ideas about who Jesus is and why they should follow him.

After all, Jesus was all about legacy. Okay, so in human terms he didn't leave a wife or child, a house, clothes, business or money. But what he did leave was far more important. Jesus left us his powerful word and teachings; he revealed who God is; he gave his life to allow us to be reconciled to the Father; he rose again to defeat death so that we could have eternal life; and he left us the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort and protect us. 

Romans 8:17 says: "And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering."

If all the seven- to eleven-year-olds in the UK are as amazing as the children we got to spend the week with, I think our nation can expect great things in the next few decades: things that are even greater than 65 hard-won medals. I’m excited about the legacy we're leaving!

Read more from Joy in the upcoming issue of Liberti magazine.

What does Jesus have to do with Shelly-Ann’s Olympic win?

Jamaican athlete Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clinched an extremely close victory in the women’s 100 metre final on August 4. Her eyes were glued to the board after the race to see whether she or USA’s Carmelita Jeter would take the coveted gold.

Then, when her name appeared in the top spot, she fell to the ground and shouted, "Thank you, Jesus!"

As a Christian, I thought this was a remarkable reaction. I’ve seen athletes (and their trainers/parents/partners) happily taking credit for their success, but it’s rare to see such an open reference to faith on the world stage.

But wasn’t her success down to the early morning starts, the gruelling training sessions, the sacrifice of all things tasty and the mental determination to cross that finish line?

What could Jesus possibly have to do with it?

Well the apostle Paul famously talks about running “with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Now I think he was seeing the Christian life as a race, rather than entering the Grecian Games back in the day, but the basic principles are the same.

It might seem obvious, but Paul points out that if we’re not in it, we can’t win it: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 

“Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

So what are we ‘running for’?

To win the ultimate prize: fellowship with God on earth, and eternity with Him in heaven when this life comes to an end. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” Paul says in Philippians 3:14.

But what if I’m not very ‘athletic’?

That’s ok, because Paul says: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13); moreover, we are at our best when we admit our weaknesses and allow God to come through for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Ok, so if God’s going to do all the work for us, can’t we just sit back and let it all happen?

Well, it’s important that we understand the rules and avoid being wrongfooted by technicalities. 

Is there anything worse than seeing an athlete booted out of a final because they haven’t followed the letter of the law? A life’s hope thrown away because of a moment of bad judgment?

Paul makes it clear that “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5).

This doesn’t mean we have to be perfect; God’s grace is incredible and the price has been paid for all our sins – past, present and future. But following God’s rules (laid out in the Bible) is key to living a fulfilling Christian life.

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

Whether we are athletes or not, we are expected to show endurance, perseverance and determination. We are called to keep our eyes on the prize (Jesus) wherever our ‘race’ take us. And we also need to give glory to God while we run, acknowledging that without Jesus, we could never finish our race or enjoy our everlasting reward.

Thanks to Shelly-Ann for reminding me that Jesus has everything to do with her (and my) victory. 

On a separate note, Shelly-Ann’s victory marked the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence from Great Britain. On August 5, 1962, the Union Jack was lowered for the final time at National Stadium in Kingston. In a twist of fate, the Jamaican flag was raised in the UK on August 5, 2012 to commemorate her excellent achievement. It was also the day some guy called Usain Bolt clinched the men’s 100 metre gold. 

Setting boundaries is biblical and liberating!

I’m just about to complete my first semester of Bible School, and it’s already beginning to change my life. One of the modules, in particular, has made me rethink the decisions I make on a daily basis. 

It’s called Boundaries, and its aim is to help people take ownership of their own actions. One of the first principles of this practical and thought-provoking course is learning how to say “NO!” to things. This in itself is a revolutionary concept to me!

I thought I’d share a bit of it with you to get you thinking about where the boundaries lie in your own life. I’m sure we could all do with ‘fixing up the fences’ around our ‘properties’ (bodies, minds and hearts) and making sure we protect ourselves from the many people and things that want to invade our space each day. So here are some of the basic principles…

A boundary is a personal property line defining where a property begins and ends. We are called to set physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries; distinguishing what belongs to us and what we are responsible for (Galatians 6:5-8). Establishing boundaries is about setting limits that protect us from harm, maintain order and help us to not to “stray” from (violate the boundaries of) God’s commands (Psalm 119:20-24).

God introduced boundaries right from creation (darkness/light, land/sea) and gave Adam and Eve clear boundaries (rules and responsibilities) in the Garden of Eden. Jesus had boundaries: He only ever did what the Father had instructed Him to do (John 5:19) and He often introduced physical boundaries between Himself and others when He withdrew to pray. Jesus says: “I stand at the door, and knock” (Revelation 3:20). He never invades our space without permission.

Boundaries define what we are personally responsible for and help us fulfil our God-given purpose. They also allow us to say no to things without feeling guilty. They prevent us from having our property (time/values/relationships) invaded or corrupted (2 Peter 1:2-4). They enable us to guard our hearts, minds and bodies (1 Peter 1:13), which are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Failure to protect and maintain our boundaries can lead to sin and the consequences of this sin.

Boundaries give us control and true freedom (John 8:32). They allow us to choose how to respond to provocation and offence. Effective boundaries help us to remain sin (“trespass”) free, which means we don’t hurt others or encroach on their property. Boundaries guard our “treasure” but allow us to live in communion with God and others, giving us the freedom to choose life or death (Deuteronomy 30:16-19; Romans 8:13). Ultimately, boundaries help us to become more Christlike.

If you are continually saying “yes” to people, when really you mean “no” or “maybe”, or you allow people to walk all over your life rules and values, I’d encourage you to take a Boundaries course or to read Boundaries by Dr Henry Cloud and Dr John Townsend. The principles are simple and it’s surprisingly liberating.

Read more from Joy in the next issue of Liberti magazine.

The girl that hugged the queen

You may have read about the Ugandan war orphan who hugged the queen during the Jubilee celebrations. Well I had the privilege of meeting Lydia Amito face-to-face at the Cherish conference in Bradford this week (and getting some hugs of my own).

I first saw this little girl on the main stage during one of the conference’s celebration meetings. She walked on stage with the Watoto Children’s Choir and stepped forward, confidently introducing herself and explaining the difference the Watoto charity – and her newfound Christian faith – has made in her life.

But while seeing her beautiful smile and listening to the choir’s incredibly moving performance, I was still unprepared for her tragic story. It turns out that Lydia’s father and uncles were butchered Lord’s Resistance Army, who also slaughtered her mother in front of her older sister.

Lydia and her six siblings managed to escape and were rescued by the Watoto Church; a Pentecostal church that now cares for 2,500 children. The church places orphans like Lydia in families of eight, housing them in simple homes that are built around a communal garden. Each home is presided over by a ‘house mother’, usually a widow who has lost her husband and/or children to war, AIDS or malnutrition.

Sitting down with Lydia was a humbling experience. On one hand she was just a shy, giggly little girl, but on the other she had been through intense trauma, seen horrors I am unlikely to ever see, and managed to start a new life. She confides that when she grows up she wants to be a nurse. “I want to treat people so they can get better,” she says.

This little girl, who could have been sex-trafficked, abused and even killed, is now in a safe home with people who love her. When she’s not at school she loves practising for the choir and helping out her house mother, Mamma Santa, by cleaning the house and cooking. She has also formed close bonds with her brothers and sisters, as well as experiencing the love of Jesus Christ, which she prizes above all else.

Being away from home for five months of the year must be strange for the choir members, some of whom are as young as ten. But Lydia says she enjoys seeing new places and loves singing and dancing on stage.

She and two of the guys caring for her – Mark and Stephen – totally stole my heart as I sat listening to her story, and to the boys’ explanations of the Watoto Charity’s aims, which can be summed up by the following passage:

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:26-7).  

If you had asked Lydia a few years back what her future held, I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t have been too convinced she would even have a future. I want to see more children like Lydia with magical smiles and beautiful spirits who are capable of impacting our nation from the top down.

As well as breaking protocol by hugging Her Majesty, I’m pretty sure she broke the queen’s hearts for the orphans’ plight. I hope this precious little girl and the other children – all of whom have had similarly traumatic experiences – continue to touch the hearts of people around the world.

You can support the children of Watoto in lots of different ways. Visit to the Watoto website to find out more.

Read more from Joy in the next issue of Liberti magazine.

What do you go to church for?

I had lunch with a close friend this week and the conversation somehow wound its way round to church.

She’s taken a break from it for the last few years but is thinking about going back. There’s one thing stopping her though: she feels like a hypocrite.

She explained that she wouldn’t be going to turn back to God, but for the sense of community church life brings. Coming from a family where the door is always open to friends, she misses the social aspect and the values it teaches. But she feels a bit uncomfortable about the praise and worship side of things. And while her husband supports her in everything she does, he is worried church members will make her split up with him if she starts going.

I personally think she’d get a lot out of church, both from a social and a spiritual point of view, and it’s probably her own reticence that will act as the biggest obstacle to her enjoyment of church itself. I’m also 100% sure no-one would try to split up her marriage – it’s a God-ordained institution (and he’s lovely!).

Anyway, my problem with church is the complete opposite. It’s only when I’m worshipping God that I feel completely free. It’s the social side of things that I struggle with. I’ve been known to sneak in as the first song starts, sit alone at the back and sneak out as the invitation for tea and coffee goes out.

I’m horrible at small talk and blush embarrassingly when I feel awkward. I’m also bad at recognising people I’ve spoken to before, so I’m always wary of asking questions I should already know the answer to! What if someone asks me something and I don’t give a holy enough answer? What if they invite me to something when there’s football on?!

I have been working on this, and the friendship groups I’ve built up in various churches over the years have been incredible. But I still get incredibly nervous when I go to a church where I don’t know anyone.

Like last week…

I made it inside through a maze of doors and was confronted by a host of indistinguishable older ladies: similar shape, hairstyle, fashion sense, glasses. They were invariably named Phyllis, Ann, Joyce and Edna and were all immensely friendly (one even invited me to lunch after the service… but there was football on).

The service itself was fine, although there were a few awkward moments. Phyllis/Ann/Joyce/Edna did an exercise with the kids involving a map cut into pieces and ‘hidden’ around the room. This went horribly wrong when one little boy grabbed a pile and refused to bring them to the front. (Hilarious.)

Then we were split into small groups to pray for the church’s missionaries, something I’m used to, but is still a bit awkward if you’re a visitor. The mood was significantly lightened when another little boy broke free of his parents and started attacking the piano (and our ear drums). Stevie Wonder he was not.

Finally, a guest speaker approached the microphone. Now I’m not saying middle-aged, leather-jacket-wearing Cockneys can’t be good preachers… but this guy wasn’t. Moments of greatness were interspersed with loud and repetitive cries for us to “get desperate for Jesus”. And I’m pretty sure he offended some of the Anns and Ednas when he said he wanted to see some “life back in this place”.

I resisted the urge to run away immediately after the service – in fact I spoke to another Joy and a young couple, all of whom were lovely. But it’s still the social side of church that I struggle with the most.

Whatever it is that puts us off, though, there are so many advantages to church. We get to worship our Heavenly Father. We develop relationships that are more like family than some of our own families. And we can then collectively take the love of God into our communities; representing Jesus to those who would rather stick pins in their eyes than go to church.

Every church has imperfections, and many of us find aspects of church difficult. But after 29 years of going, I’m convinced the pros far outweigh the cons.

I’m definitely looking forward to being back at my own church this Sunday, though!

Love is in the air

Last weekend I was almost literally blown away by everything that happened at the Exceptional Women’s Conference at my church (Carmel Christian Centre).

The theme was LOVE, based on John 4:7, which says: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God”.

During the two-day conference, Pastor Michelle di Somma and guest speakers Yvonne Brooks and Marion Meyers unpicked what it means to love God, ourselves and our ‘neighbour’.


The teaching was too powerful not to share, so I’ll give you some titbits from Yvonne Brooks, first assistant pastor at the New Jerusalem Apostolic Church in Birmingham who, by the way, is absolutely hilarious.

If He can love me, I can

Pastor Yvonne’s first teaching session focused on the importance of loving ourselves. She explained that in Matthew 22:39, Jesus likens the second commandment – ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’ – to the first – ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’. From this we can see how God presupposes that we already love ourselves.

“God, the king of heaven and earth, loves us!” she exclaims. “He has set his love upon us.”

According to Pastor Yvonne, we deflect our feelings onto others, making them appear ugly because we feel ugly ourselves. She joked that since she started loving herself, all the ugly people have disappeared! On a serious note, though, her advice was for all of us to go through our ‘emotional closets’; to face our ‘unlovable’ parts, deal with them and move on.

She drew attention to the fact that Matthew 19:19, Luke 10:27 and James 2:8 reiterate the importance of loving our neighbour as we love ourselves, adding that when scripture refers to something over and over again, it means that it’s a subject that is close to God’s heart. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that in order to love our neighbour we must first love ourselves.

“We need to see what God sees when He looks at us,” Pastor Yvonne says. “Satan will give you ten good reasons why you shouldn’t love yourself; he’s your enemy! But God has given us the victory again and again and again.” She claims that if we can just learn to love God, ourselves and our neighbour, all the other commandments will be taken care of!

“Neither do I condemn you”

Pastor Yvonne also took the final session on Saturday evening, basing it on the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8). She reminded us how with one sentence – “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” – Jesus silenced and disarmed the woman’s accusers.

If anybody could have judged, condemned and lectured, it was Jesus. But He didn’t even entertain the idea, and neither should we. “God won’t listen to anyone’s accusations about you,” she said reassuringly. “Now is the time of grace.”

According to Pastor Yvonne, Jesus came so the woman could be free, justified and live outside the shadow of her past. After coming face to face with Jesus it is very unlikely she went back to her old way of life, and neither should we, she concluded.

Loving myself isn’t something I had spent much time thinking about, but the teaching made it clear that it is one of God’s commands and that it is important to Him. It doesn’t mean we should be arrogant and think we are better than anyone else, it simply means that we should consider ourselves as our heavenly father does – with mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love.

Often we’re our own harshest critics, going over and over the mistakes we’ve made and continually condemning ourselves for them. For many of us it’s time to draw a line in the sand, and to allow God’s forgiveness to liberate us from sin and condemnation.

You can register now for the 2013 conference at www.exceptionalwomen.co.uk. 

Read more from Joy in the upcoming edition of Liberti magazine.

Show me the money!

Some Christians have a problem discussing finance because they feel it is a “worldly” concept that will inevitably corrupt the soul. 

The word “prosperity” is often dismissed as an Americanism that doesn’t match up with biblical teachings.

I strongly disagree with this. Jesus mentioned money more times in the gospels than any other topic apart from the Kingdom of God. If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me. According to my calculations, the word “prosper” is used a whopping 49 times in the Bible, while “prosperity” is dropped in on 17 occasions.

We need to remember that it is the love of money that is “the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), not the money itself. We all need cash to put food on the table and to keep a roof over our heads, but that doesn’t give us carte blanche to become greedy and covetous. We are called to rule over our money rather than letting our financial circumstances rule us; to stop comparing ourselves with others and to value people over “stuff”.

The Bible tells us we should be “wise stewards” of our money (Luke 12:42). In other words, we should not spend beyond our means and we should use our cash to live honourable and generous lives. In actual fact, the more sensible we are with the money God has already blessed us with, the more he will entrust us with in the future. So if you need a few extra quid, maybe it’s time to readjust the way you view the money that’s already burning a hole in your pocket.

As Christians we believe that everything in the universe was created by, and belongs to, God. So whatever we earn, we should remember to give thanks for it and use it for His glory, not to keep buying endless pairs of shoes (is it just me that struggles with this particular temptation?).

The Bible makes it clear that we should tithe, which means giving the first 10% of our income to God. I’ll discuss this at length some time soon, as it’s a topic that needs a bit of careful consideration. It also tells us we should use it to help others, particularly orphans and widows; basically, anyone who is in real need.

This is really just an introduction, an overview of the topic, which by now I hope I’ve convinced you is one that is close to God’s own heart.

In future editions of Liberti magazine I’ll be covering all aspects of finance in the future: mortgages, debt, government benefits, credit cards, cashback sites, pensions, inheritance tax, shopping, budgeting, ISAs, online banking and anything else I can think of. If that doesn’t float your boat, I don’t know what will!

Hopefully, I’ll also be able to tailor this to the financial needs of you lovely Liberti ladies by covering issues such as the gender pay gap, childcare costs and upcoming changes to women’s car insurance legislation.

Most importantly, I’ll endeavour to present all of this from an interesting and biblical perspective. So let’s get ready to shake our money makers (what does that even mean?) and cash in on everything God has promised us.

After all, it was God who came up with the “live long and prosper” (Exodus 20:12) philosophy, long before Star Trek’s Dr Spock started using the infamous Vulcanian greeting. So let’s say a firm farewell to money worries and a hearty hello to healthy bank balances!

Read more from Joy in the upcoming edition of Liberti mag.

At last some recognition for homeless-helping churches

I’ve become so used to seeing news stories about abuse and prejudice in churches, I was surprised to see an article in the Guardian about churches that are helping the homeless.

And there isn’t even a sniff of cynicism about it.

The story begins with a visit to a homeless centre in a Victorian London church.

“Tables are set at the top of the nave where 20 people are seated eating chilli con carne and mince pies,” writes Anna Tims.

“It's a strikingly peaceful dinner party – perhaps because the only beverages are orange juice and mineral water – but one of the guests, a youthful-looking man in a smart blue shirt, says it has saved his life.”

Holy Innocents, which has provided food, beds and rehousing support for 195 homeless people since the project started three years ago, isn’t the only church mentioned in the article.

Tims writes that it is one of a group of 14 churches in the London borough of Haringey providing food and beds for local rough sleepers. She claims that in 26 of London’s 33 boroughs, groups of churches are “quietly doing the same, improvising dormitories among the pews, adapting church halls into hostels and recruiting volunteers to cook meals, chat to the guests and take turns to sleep on mattresses under the same roof”.

According to the author, Holy Innocents and many other churches are providing clothes, toiletries, shower and laundry facilities and are “a vital plank in restoring dignity and self-respect in those who have lost all hope”.

It’s so refreshing to read a secular article that champions the work many Christians across the UK are doing, without making a fuss or asking for any glory.

There are countless verses in the Bible about helping those who are in need. Psalm 34: 18 says: “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit” and Proverbs 19:17 says: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed”.

It’s our duty to care and provide for the homeless, orphans, widows and anyone else we see struggling. If Jesus were walking the earth today I reckon he’d be hanging out with the homeless and ministering to them: both physically and spiritually. So that’s exactly what we should be doing.

Jesus said that people will know we are His disciples if we demonstrate our love for one another (John 13:34-35).

So let’s start making headlines for the right reasons; let’s make positive stories about Christians the norm rather than a rare luxury.

Practical demonstrations of love are the way forward if we want to reach a world that feels detached and disappointed by Christians today.

Read more from Joy in the upcoming issue of Liberti magazine.

Chris Page has some pretty good cards up his sleeve

I recently interviewed a guy whose vision has become a thriving and inspirational company. In 2004, Chris Page set up Cards fromAfrica (CfA), which provides employment to people in Rwanda and makes beautiful handmade, Fairtrade cards. Chris tells Liberti how he set up the business and about the exciting road ahead.

Liberti: What drew you specifically to Rwanda?

Chris Page: I visited Rwanda for three days in 2001 during a ‘scouting the land’ trip.  I knew God was calling me to work overseas and sensed the time was right to start looking in 2000, so I started researching about countries and visiting a few in my holiday leave. Whilst I was in Rwanda I heard the word ‘dignity’ from the Lord and I strongly felt He was saying He wanted to restore dignity to vulnerable youth.

Liberti: Why did you think the card business was a good way to support orphans there?

Chris Page: I started to think about what it was that gave me dignity in my life.  I realised that apart from my identity in Christ, it was the ability to choose what I studied, what clothes I wore, having decent healthcare, what sports to play, etc. And the thing that really enabled all these choices fundamentally seemed to be money! 

So perhaps the Lord wanted me to help people earn money… How, I thought? Through job creation? The more I thought about it, the more it sat right with me, and I was filled with excitement. He wanted me to go and help start up businesses and become a business missionary.

Cards from Africa was the first business I started. I was looking for a product that could be exported, [and was] lightweight (Rwanda is landlocked), high-value, labour-intensive, and relatively unskilled. Handmade cards seemed to tick all the boxes, so we teamed up with a Rwandan artist, made our own handmade paper, and it seemed to take off. We haven’t looked back (much) since! We’re now employing over 90 people full time to make the cards. Almost all our employees are orphaned youth responsible for their younger siblings. They are all aged 18 years+, which is one of the requirements of a Fairtrade organisation.

Liberti: Did you have previous experience in the creative/business sphere?

Chris Page: No, but I have started a few small enterprises since then, including Cards from Africa in the UK as a distribution business.

Liberti: What is your vision for the company?

Chris Page: Our initial vision is to capture 0.01% of the UK greeting card market!  That would enable us to employ around 300 orphaned youth in Rwanda, which is about the capacity of the building they currently rent in Kigali, Rwanda.

Liberti: How does your Christian faith affect the way you do business?

Chris Page: Jesus is central. He’s the best business partner you could ever have! He guides, gives reassurance, whispers words of encouragement and affirmation, and His glory is CfA’s ultimate aim. When we lose track of what CfA is all about, He gently puts us back on track. He is exceedingly patient, gracious, loving and generous, and has never, ever disappointed or failed us, and he never will (even if CfA fails).

The cards take 30 minutes to make, on average, and are exceptionally beautiful. And according to Chris, Cards from Africa now has the largest range of Fairtrade greetings cards on the planet. “We don’t kill any kittens to make our cards, we only use recycled office waste paper,” he jokes. Of course, the main point is that the money goes to those who need it rather than the big American greeting cards companies many of us buy from.

In addition to buying the cards, you can become a Cards from Africa representative, selling the cards and earning some money for yourself (or for a cause you love). You can also contact Chris (chris@cardsfromafrica.com) if you know a retailer that might want to stock CfA cards or if you have any design ideas. Find out more about the company at www.cardsfromafrica.co.uk.

Why I’ll be “walking like an Egyptian” this Christmas

The announcement that my boyfriend and I would be going to Egypt this Christmas raised a few eyebrows. Although they didn’t say it, I knew some people were thinking that it wasn’t a very “Christian” thing to do, as if God’s presence is somehow restricted to the British Isles.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas at home. I love snuggling up by the fire with my family, watching cheesy films I’ve seen a million times before, eating more turkey than can possibly be good for me and exchanging endless gifts. I’ve always ADORED the smell of Christmas dinner, pine needles and mulled wine (although I lost my sense of smell in the summer so this is a thrill I can no longer enjoy…).

But there are several valid reasons for spending Christmas overseas this year.

1. It is Chris’ 30^th birthday and we wanted to do something special to celebrate
2. We normally go to see our respective families (mine in Bristol, his in Derry) at this time of year, but after five years together we actually wanted to spend Christmas together. It would not have gone down at all well with my mum if we’d jilted a Bristol Christmas for a Derry one!
3. We fancy an escape from work; even I can’t do work if my laptop is 2,000 miles away
4. Egypt is WARM!

Anyway, I don’t know why I’m explaining myself. Yes, I will miss going to my own church on Christmas Day. I have certainly not forgotten that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place. But Jesus was born a lot closer to Egypt than he was to Bristol or Derry. And he is just as relevant there as he is here. Even though Egypt (shock horror!) is a Muslim country.

We’ll be having our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve this year, but that won’t make me less of a Christian than those sitting down to eat on the 25th. In fact, it might give me the opportunity to have some interesting conversations with people who don’t normally think about Jesus at Christmastime. I’ll certainly be taking his love with me everywhere I go.

Whatever you’re doing this Christmas, I hope you have a fantastic one.

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year from everyone at Liberti xxx

The dream that became a nightmare

You may have noticed that my blogs have been quite focused on human trafficking recently. I'm not going to apologise for this. It is something I feel passionately about and desperately want to see eradicated. But rather than writing another fact-filled blog of protest, this week I decided to write a poem from the point of view of a trafficked woman.

Perhaps poetry isn't your thing, and I realise I can only imagining what it must be like to experience such horrific circumstances. But maybe it will help you do the same. Feel free to let me know your thoughts.

Traffik stoppers

He came and gave my father money;

promised a land of milk and honey

He guaranteed a better life;

I’d learn a trade, I’d be a wife.

This had always been my dream;

this cat had always chased the cream

I’d see the world, I’d fall in love;

this man was sent from God above!

                         











But far away from friendly faces

I serviced men of many races

This is how I earned my bread;

my life suspended by a thread.

I’d never felt such utter shame;

they cut my hair, they changed my name

Kept under the hand, not just the thumb;

my heart so uncomfortably numb.

Every night I turned that trick;

They made me sore, they made me sick.

I didn’t dream, I couldn’t sleep;

My hope was gone, I dared not weep.

I longed for sunshine on my skin

but day and night I was kept in

Mastered by a tiny key

I prayed that God would rescue me.

Some vowed they’d take me out of there

but once fulfilled they didn’t care

My jailor locked me up with fear;

his words a curse, his smile a leer.

                         

One day I managed to escape

but I was found and tamed with rape

To my throat he held a knife

until I begged him for my life.

If ever again I ran away

he said my family would pay

He covered my face in black and red;

no dignity left, no single shred.

Three times I found myself with child

after I had been defiled

But even they from me were taken;

my babies stolen, lost, forsaken.

Why did I ever leave my land

for a language I didn’t understand?

Why had I sold my soul for this;

the stolen sex, the stifling kiss?

                                   

And then the men in blue they came;

I opened my legs for more of the same

They locked me in a metal cage;

I knew they’d make me earn my wage.

                                                     

Instead they sat and questioned me;

they brought me endless cups of tea

Trapped behind another door;

with words I’d never heard before.

                           

But then a stranger brought me light;

she fought for me with all her might

She risked it all to rescue me;

to cut me loose, to set me free

She told me I was no one’s slave;

for me a man his life he gave

To give me hope, a destiny;

this man named Jesus paid my fee.

It sounded an unlikely tale;

I had no faith in any male

But she spoke from a melted heart

and offered me a brand new start.

She helped me overcome my fears;

she gently wiped away my tears

Free to laugh, to sing, to dance;

I gladly seized that second chance.

But I am not the only one

to live a life without the sun

To suffer ever new disgrace;

ensnared within a cruel embrace

It won’t take one, or two, or three

if we’re to set the captives free

If we’re to make the traffic stall

to block it off: for once, for ALL.

It won’t take luck; it won’t take magic; it’s up to US to stop the traffik.

If you want to know more about human trafficking, visit A21 Campaign's website. It offers plenty of information and ways to get involved.

Read more from Joy in the upcoming issue of Liberti magazine, and in its parent publication, Sorted.