HANDING ON THE TORCH – Sacred words for a secular world. York Courses have been producing study courses for ecumenical use for 15 years. Our easy-to-use courses bring the voices and opinions of prominent Christian thinkers into discussion groups in more than twenty countries worldwide.

The District is holding a Forum to help us to engage with the next phase of the Methodist Church's Discipleship agenda.

We tend to think that when things don’t work out for us, we are doing something wrong. We are the person nearest to us and so we get the blame first. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13). This may cause us to think that there is a magic formula for life and as long as we stick rigidly to it, all will work out well. Beware – things are never that simple.

The Churches, including the Methodist Church, say that the proposed Benefit Cap will make the UK a darker plae

Community Chaplian required for Nottingham, Mansfield and Ashfield


Part time 22 hrs per week
Salary £24,000 per annum (Pro Rata)

Closing date: Friday 10th February 2012

Churches and Charities write to PM re alcohol pricing

As you no doubt know, the Olympic and Paralympic Games take place in the UK this coming summer. Dates of importance are:-

Methodist Council preparing statement on Equality and Diversity

An Old Testament verse I often quote is Isaiah 51 verse 1 which says ‘Look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug’. Different translations render this verse in different ways but the gist of it for me is that our present is shaped by our past. The chapter goes on to remind the Israelites how God had been at work in the lives of their ancestors and would continue that work in the present and future, if they remained faithful.

It came totally out of the blue. The manager of our training department, Gerry, was on a visit to Nottingham where I worked in the computer industry. He asked for a chat with me and so we sidled off to a vacant office. ‘Would you consider coming to work in the training department in Stevenage as a lecturer?’ he asked me. It was one of those mind-racing moments where a thousand questions hit my brain cells all at once.

BBC ecouraging the participation in an Easter anthem

On more than one occasion, Jesus was asked to explain where he stood in terms of keeping the laws handed down from past generations and which he saw as the most important one. In common with many teachers of the day he quoted what was known in his day as ‘The Rabbinic Summary’ which goes like this – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, love your neighbour as yourself.” None of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day would have argued with him on this score.

A magazine looking at the issues facing those living out their life and faith in rural britain

Amazingly, Children in Need raised a stunning £26 million in just one night. In spite of the economic crisis the British people have once again shown their immense generosity to needy people. But what is it about Children in Need that causes such an enormous outpouring of generosity and altruism?

Last Sunday I was preaching in a local church and asked one of the worship leaders to conduct the start of the service, including the children’s address. At the start of this address he walked boldly towards the front of the church brandishing a large length of rope. I became uneasy, not least because I had yet to preach. Anyway, he asked for volunteers from the children to help him with his illustration. At once a flurry of hands went up and a host of children joined him at the front of the church for a tug of war.

So a group of anti-capitalism protestors with a less than clear message pitch their tents and sleep outside (or some of them do as the police’s thermal imaging cameras have shown), bring St. Paul’s Cathedral to a halt, trigger the resignation of two of its senior staff and leave the Church of England in a position of acute embarrassment because of its less than decisive response to the issues being raised. Even now I wonder whether the Archbishop of Canterbury who advocates the introduction of the Tobin Tax (a tax on currency transactions) and the Bishop of London who has been ‘flown’ in to run St. Paul’s in the wake of these resignations, are actually singing from the same hymn sheet.

It is certainly trying times for those in leadership positions, especially where the country is undergoing considerable change. The ‘Arab Spring’ has brought rejoicing all over the world as we have seen former dictatorships gradually displaced by democratic governments. In some situations like Tunisia and Egypt, the transition has been relatively peaceful. But sadly in Syria, and just recent in Libya, many lives have been lost as dictatorial leaders desperately try to cling to power.

The past few months have been a trying time for me and my family as we have watched my mother gradually lose her capacity to live independently. Yes, she’s got all her faculties and has many years left but frailty has set in to such an extent that she now needs permanent care. As you can imagine, the burden has fallen to us to wind up her home which she has occupied for nearly 15 years and to decide what to do with all her belongings, many of which are steeped in treasured memories but are of no value to anyone but us. The quirky tea pot, the photo album of holidays in the sun, the Valentine’s card from her late husband – all priceless treasures which have no home to go to now – who would want to buy them?

A new downloadable, print-ready pdf booklet has been produced for the Nottingham and Derby District which contains suggestions for individuals and groups to reflect on their Christian discipleship during Lent 2012.

Have you noticed the degree to which blame and criticism have entered the bloodstream of our nation? Teachers are worried about disciplining the children for fear of reprisals from parents, the police are fearful of stamping down too strongly on crime for fear of sparking off riots � and so we could cite examples of unrest between ethnic and religious groups, young and old, traditionalists and modernists � the list is endless.

The effect on the church of increasing dementia

As we read the pages of the New Testament, do we stop and think what the early church was actually like? Think about the opening verses of Acts 13 where Saul and Barnabas were chosen to go out on mission. Can you imagine what it must have been like to find the right people for a job that had never been done before and had a high risk of failure?

As we watch the horrific scenes on our TV screens of shops looted, police pelted with petrol bombs and bricks, buildings set alight and stock markets crashing around the world, what do we make of it all? Are these apocalyptical scenes heralding the end of the age as we know it, the outworking of enormous unrest in the hearts and lives of people or the work of God’s Spirit bringing us all a stark wake-up call that things have gone badly wrong? Perhaps it’s a bit of all three.

Our son, Andrew, had flown in from Geneva and we spent the weekend together enjoying the London scenery and warm sunshine. On Saturday evening we struggled through the evening underground in baking hot weather on a mystery tour to a station we had never even heard of. Andrew had organised a surprise meal and refused to divulge the name until we were on the doorstep. We finally arrived at Old Street tube station and walked along City Road, turning right at Moorfields Eye Hospital into Westland Place. At the end of this road was a dark building housing a restaurant named Fifteen.

Scarcely a news bulletin goes by without a mention or two of the internet. Only this week, President Obama thanked the American people for their letters and tweets about the deficit which, if unresolved, could send shock waves through the financial markets of the world. I was in a famous London store beginning with ‘H’ over the weekend and saw shelf after shelf stocked with laptops, netbooks and iPads, tempting their customers to splash out inordinate amounts of money to get hold of the latest on-line technology.

“Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner, but he knew it couldn’t last. Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona, for some California grass. Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged.” These were the opening words of the last chart-topping Beatles hit in the late 1960s. Having seen their popularity slump somewhat and their divine right to reaching the number 1 slot in the week of release questioned, they stormed back with what I believe was their best single. The zany lyrics which seemed to capture the spirit of the age and the syncopated rhythm stuck in my mind for years. I know there are baby-boomers out there taking issue with me but …

Having just returned from two back-to-back conferences I am a little jaded but have lots to unpack. Each year the Anglican Missioners from across the UK meet for their annual conference which this year took place in Merville, northern France. Because of the growing ecumenical spirit within the missioners’ movements of our two denominations, they kindly invited the Methodist Evangelism and Mission Enablers to join them. We shared three packed and stimulating days together in a Catholic Seminary.

A brief profile of teh 2011 President Rev Lional Osborn

Contemporary Methodism: a discipleship movement shaped for mission

Once there was a group of fishermen. Some wore red anoraks, others wore blue. They fished every day in a river and caught lots of fish. Their families prospered because they had lots of food to eat.

Step Forward is a resource for deepening discipleship which is designed to be delivered through small groups.

The cathedral clock showed 3pm as the bright, afternoon sun smiled upon the magnificent building – a beacon of faith, hope and truth. As I walked through the cathedral grounds returning home from a meeting of missioners, I was approached by Patrick, a man of similar age to myself, but with a very different life story to tell.

A meeting was recently organised by the East Midlands Regional Training Partnership on the subject of ‘The Big Society and the Church’. A number of key speakers were contributing to the day including Phillip Blond, director of the think-tank, ResPublica and a man who the Telegraph names as the driving force behind David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ agenda. Other input was received from theologians and church leaders. Phillip’s opening address was particularly illuminating in that it set into context what is meant by ‘The Big Society’ and the thinking behind it.

Where is the Olympic Flame going?

It was just like an ordinary Saturday – football-wise that is. There was a normal set of Premier League fixtures when Manchester United had the chance to clinch the title (and they did) and West Ham could be relegated (and they were). And yet, it was also the FA Cup Final between Stoke City and Manchester City. In days gone by, the FA Cup Final was the pinnacle of the footballing season with all the league issues settled. People would gravitate to their TV screens and watch with excitement to wave goodbye to football for another year. It was a special day. Nothing would compete with it.

The Methodist discipleship website.

It was at Marlborough Square Methodist Church in March during their Biblefresh Extravganza that my eyes were drawn to the banner which read, ‘We cannot become what we ought to be by remaining what we are’. It was one of those moments when a light bulb went on in my brain – a moment of divine wisdom which made me stop and think. It’s a message that not only applies to us as individuals but it can also apply to businesses, communities and, of course, churches.

Revd. Jenny Ellis presented a workshop "Reading the Bible in New and Creative Ways" on January 29th at the Biblefresh Launch. Download her Biblical Labyrinth.

I watched the news today and saw Prince William and his bride-to-be, Kate Middleton on a royal visit to Witton Country Park. They both looked so relaxed and the enthusiastic crowd who had gathered to meet them seemed so relaxed in their presence. In the lead up to the Royal Wedding at the end of this month, interest in the young couple is sky-high and many people are going out of their way to catch a glimpse of them.

Perhaps you have finished the E100 challenge, the Biblefresh Lent Course or an Alpha Course and are asking 'what next?'

Talking of God is a new faith sharing course. It will help individuals and congregations to talk about their faith journey.

Two hours to help you get ready to run in response to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Join others from your area for a packed programme that includes:

The Scriptorium was conducted on the evening of March 27th at Winshill Methodist Church, Burton on Trent

So – have you filled in your census form? Have you ticked the appropriate box relating to religion? There have been some interesting comments made on the radio about which people should tick the ‘No Religion’ box. One humanist I heard said that people should only tick Christian if they were a regular attender at Church and committed to the faith. In contract, a spokesman from Theos, the Christian think-tank, advocated a broader approach because many people consider themselves to be Christian even though they do not, for whatever reason, attend church on a regular basis.

A Biblefresh Extravaganza was held at Marlborough Square, Whitwick and Ashby Methodist Churches from March 25th - 27th. Watch the video.

We held a Scriptorium at Costa Coffee in Uttoxeter - it is part of the Tesco store. Members of many local denominations took part and made it a truly ecumenical event. They completed Psalms 87 & 88 in less than two hours.

As we are now into Lent and are hopefully keeping to our commitment to give up whatever it is we have agreed to give up, we are presented with an opportunity to reflect upon the meaning, purpose and direction of our lives. Jesus spent forty days in the desert without food, not for dietary reasons, but in order for him to focus clearly on what it is that his life and ministry should be about from that moment on. We are told he was ‘tempted by Satan’ and the gospels depict three aspects of temptation which he faced. I don’t believe that Jesus was taunted by a comic figure with horns and a tail. I believe Jesus faced what we all face – the battle between doing, on one hand, what comes naturally (humanly speaking) and on the other hand, what comes through obedience to God (life in the Spirit).

Scriptorium at Idlewells Shopping Centre, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

You may remember that iconic song by John Lennon in the 1970s – Imagine – which contains those tantalising words, "Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too." We are told that on the 2011 census form, when people are asked to submit their religious allegiance, for the first time ever, 'No Religion' will be top of the list of choices. This could herald a major shift in how we view religious allegiance in the country because, top of the list of options, people will be able to opt out rather than pretending they adhere to a religious grouping they never actually support in practice and whose moral and ethical standards they merely give lip-service to. It will also be interesting to see how many people designate themselves as pagan, but that's another story.

This is one of the 13 regional societies plus those in Scotland and Ireland dedicated to researching, discussing and publishing material on the history of Methodism, its people and its place in British society.

This is 'The Year of the Bible' and I, like many others, am reading the entire Bible in a year. As the world looks on in amazement, on TV and the Internet, at the incredible events unfolding in Tahrrir Square, Cairo, I can't help but draw parallels with the opening chapters of the book of Exodus where an oppressed religious minority plead to their God for help. Again and again, their leader, Moses appeals to the authoritarian dictator, Pharaoh, and the words, 'Let my people go!' are ringing out in Pharaoh's ears. Similarly the people of Egypt have protested, relatively peacefully, against the authoritarian dictator, Hosni Mubarak, from whose rule they wish to be freed. And now they have!

A new 6-session course about discipleship for small groups.

Recruitment of new members

But Jacob said, "My master can see that the children are frail. And the flocks and herds are nursing, making for slow going. If I push them too hard, even for a day, I'd lose them all. So, master, you go on ahead of your servant, while I take it easy at the pace of my flocks and children. I'll catch up with you in Seir.” (Genesis 33:13,14)

During our recent trip to Geneva to visit our son prior to Christmas, we went on the visitors’ tour of the United Nations. As our son has worked on contract with the United Nations in Vienna, where he lives, Nairobi and now Geneva, we are always keen to see at first hand this world-famous organisation which has such a key role in bringing peace and the relief of suffering to some of the most deprived people of the world. As we wandered around the huge complex, we were guided to some of the debating chambers where the world’s top diplomats have thrashed out some of the most pressing issues the world faces. We rubbed shoulders with people from all over the globe who had descended upon the UN for business purposes, guessing where they might be from.

As we approach the end of another year there’s always the urge to start the new year with a clean slate and renewed enthusiasm for life, for our work and for our relationships. In the book of Revelation (chapter 21), John has a vision of a new heaven and a new earth and the divine voice utters those immortal words, “Behold, I make all things new”. However, one important point we note is that before the new can come, the old has to be dispensed with. The old and the new seem to be incompatible.

It was a rainy Thursday morning as I arrived at St. Pancras station on my way to a meeting at Methodist Church House. As I walked through the station I looked left towards the Eurostar terminal at which I had arrived only a couple of days before on my way back from Geneva. I crossed the road outside the station to wait for the number 30 or 205 bus which would take me a couple of miles to Marylebone Road and my final destination.

I guess many people of my age are looking back nostalgically on the revolutionary musical years dominated by the Beatles and Rolling Stones and wishing they could re-live their youth. The Beatles released their ground-breaking ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ LP and Paul McCartney’s musical genius first introduced me to the joys of the minor seventh chord. Alongside this we saw the country dragged into a culture of drug-taking and permissiveness for which we now pay a heavy price.

You may have heard that recently Tony Blair, the former Labour Prime Minister and Christopher Hitchens, a leading atheist academic, debated in Toronto: ‘Religion is a force for good in the world’. This inevitably reminds us of the similar debates which have taken place in the past with people like Richard Dawkins, author of ‘The God Delusion’, where he contends that a supernatural creator almost certainly does not exist and that religious faith is a delusion.

To the 21st century reader, the Bible can be something of a mystery. At first glance they might think that the Bible is a single book which needs to be read from start to finish like Harry Potter. They may also think that the style of writing is consistent throughout. However, the truth is quite different. Even the most recent writings in the Bible – the New Testament – are far removed from what we are used to today.

Over Lent 2010 several thousand people in the North-East took part in "The Big Read" based on Tom Wright's Lent for Everyone: Matthew, which aimed to encourage thoughtful engagement with the Bible: individually, in house groups, and corporately as a region. With much positive feedback, for 2011, the Big Read is going national, offering opportunities to join the conversation not only within housegroups, but online as well. We anticipate people participating from quiet sitting rooms with Bibles and books, to coffee shops and internet chatrooms across the world.

The news breaks today that Facebook has launched a new Messaging system which combines Facebook, Text Messaging, Email and Instant Messaging all under the one platform. We wait with interest as the world of communication makes another quantum leap forward. Some analysts predict that Facebook will dent Google's stronghold on the market. Others wait to see how the likes of Google, and possibly Microsoft, will respond.

It may come as no surprise that Andy Frost (Share Jesus International) quotes unanswered prayer, especially for healing, as one of the top reasons why people lose their faith. He will be addressing this issue in the forthcoming tour entitled 'Rediscovering Faith' (5th November at Sherwood Methodist Church). Sadly the healing ministry has attracted some of the more controversial and wacky characters, some of whom have caused harm through their insensitive and sometimes inappropriate healing work. On the other hand, there are some excellent practitioners who have conducted their ministry with great effect. These are often anonymous people who shun the limelight.

In Acts chapter 16, Paul and his companions were keen to preach the gospel in Asia but the Spirit of God said 'no'. So they tried to enter Bithynia but once again God said 'no'.

How frustrating! Paul didn't lack commitment, his motives were pure and he had been successful in his work as was clear for all to see. So, why would God step in and frustrate his plans? Why did God close a door on him?
The answer soon becomes clear when Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia begging him to come over and help him. Yes, God can sometimes close doors but, as in this case, he opens another.

What a wonderful place for a retreat or quiet day of prayer and meditation.

We have seen a marked shift in the way we do evangelism in recent years. When I first became a Christian, the normal style of evangelism was on the 'Go and Tell' model and all Christians were expected to share their faith in the workplace, sports centre, cafe or wherever they met with their friends and family. This model went down well in some sections of the church but in others it induced feelings of guilt and inadequacy, especially among those of a more introverted nature.

Extending Discipleship, Exploring Vocation (EDEV) is about encouraging Christians to grow in their discipleship, explore their vocation and discern their ministry.

My family have recently been gripped by genealogy-itus as we search through the internet and other sources to discover who our ancestors are. We recently visited relatives in Kent who are doing a similar thing and we spent hours pouring over photographs, mostly in sepia, of long-departed family members. My wife has also stumbled across two sets of medals – one are war medals belonging to her grandfather and the other a set of cycling medals won by her father back in the 1930s. These have now been polished and mounted for all to see.

On February 12th 1993, two 10 year old boys, Jon Venables and Robert Thomson, abducted two-year-old James Bulger from under his mother’s nose in a shopping centre in Bootle. They took the toddler to a railway line near Walton and brutally murdered him, leaving the entire nation in shock at such an horrific crime being performed by two young lads. Venables and Thompson were later released with false identities so that they could re-integrate with society. Some weeks back, Venable was re-arrested on suspicion of downloading child-pornography. But, just this week, we hear rumours that Venables has “found religion”. This news has sparked a wave of reaction from people inside and outside of the church about the validity of his so-called conversion.

It was a beautiful summer’s day and the lure of a bike ride was irresistible. So off we scampered through the nearby estate and along the canal banks until mid-morning – or to put it another way – ‘coffee time’. Yes, we stumbled across a Starbucks and rested our legs for a short interval. We read one of their brochures which described the choices confronting you when you enter their premises. Coffees in all shapes and sizes with skimmed, semi-skimmed, whole or soy milk. Macchiato, espresso, americano, cappuccino, latte – you name it they provide it. The brochure made the proud boast that Starbuck provide a staggering ‘86,000 different drink combinations – all customised to your own individual needs’.

As we come to that time of the year when the thought of holidays take priority over the normal routine of daily life and Ministers prepare to move to new churches and circuits, it made me reflect on how different life is today compared with just twenty or so years ago. Nick Clegg was reported as saying that voting patterns in the UK will be radically different from now on as some in his party are asking, ‘What’s the point of voting Lib-Dem?’ I attended the leaving ceremony for Graham Horsley and Derrick Norton at Methodist Church House this last week and felt a strong sense of a new era dawning in the realm of evangelism in Methodism as these two long-standing and highly valued servants of the Church move on. Wes Blakey, chair of the Nottingham & Derby district says goodbye at his leaving service tomorrow. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered.

The year 1617 was the centenary of the Protestant Reformation in Germany. At that time, hostilities between Catholics and Protestants were at their height and in 1633 they led to the 30 Years War when a Protestant backlash by Bohemian Nobles in Prague caused the death of two ministers and private secretary of the Catholic Emperor when they were flung out of a fortress window.

Tony Hayward is a name which was formerly unknown to most British people until he recently caused Barak Obama to see red. He is the Chief Executive of BP and is at the centre of the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico as BP work frantically to stop the leakage from the damaged oil well. Sadly, under pressure from the circumstances he found himself in, Hayward made statements like, "the Gulf is a very big ocean", implying the spillage would not have a major impact. He also said, "I want my life back" meaning he wanted the crisis sorted so that he could return to a normal lifestyle. The US President, who lives under constant and immense pressure, was not impressed. When all of this has been sorted we will probably find out what caused the explosion (if it's not already known) and will discover that the blame does not rest on one man's shoulders.

Over 200 Christians from across the denominations gathered together with members of charities and other NGOs at Westminster Central Hall in London on 19th March 2010 to engage with matters of social justice in the lead up to the 2012 London Games.

At the Connexional Olympics Resource Forum held here in December 2009, people requested resources from the Connexional Team. Recently we met with the Share Jesus International leaders Andy Frost and Emma Morrice, who are heading up the Creative and Performing Arts aspect of More Than Gold.

More Than Gold is a brand that Christian Churches have been using since 1992 leading up to the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. Its unique label has been used for Christian outreach efforts at major international sporting events such as the Commonwealth, Pan Am, and Winter and Summer Olympic Games all around the world.

Illustration for Speakers - We’re all important!

My latest excursion into Alpha courses has taken me into the realm of running what Holy Trinity Brompton have called SENIOR ALPHA. It is an Alpha Course aimed at retired people and we are over half way through the course now at Trinity Methodist Church in Kirkby in Ashfield. We have a team of around half a dozen leaders, some of whom have led talks whilst others have coordinated food or led table discussions.

Once again, Nicky Campbell on his Big Questions programme on BBC1 on Sunday morning (10am) touched upon some excellent theological issues, one of which was our understanding of original sin. Bishop Desmond Tutu has recently released a book, Made for Goodness, in which he states that all people are born perfect, thus disagreeing with the doctrine of original sin. I must say I have not yet read the book and will simply focus on the debate on BBC1 where Jonathan Bartley, director of the Christian think-tank, Ekklesia, said the doctrine of original sin has poorly explained by the church over the generations and he would endorse the doctrine of original goodness too. He even apologised for the Church’s mishandling of the issue.

We have just returned from ECG (Equipping, Calling, Going) which took place at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru in the week after Easter (6th – 11th April). Having attended Easter People in the past, this is our first visit to ECG which has continued in a similar style since the late Rob Frost felt it was right to ‘lay down’ Easter People. The event has been organised by Rev. Ashley Cooper, Rev. Steve Lindridge and others on the management team (alongside their responsibilities within the Methodist Church).

As always, Easter has illuminated the gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus in a new way. This year, however, what struck me most about the resurrection was the place of ‘doubt and uncertainty’ in the hearts and minds of the followers of Jesus. A close inspection of the narratives shows that these two words overlay practically every encounter with the risen Lord without exception.

After the seminar on March 30th on Back to Church Sunday, this post holds the Powerpoint of the talk given by Michael Harvey (see download at the bottom of the post).

I walked home from church yesterday with an air of anticipation as I wanted to watch my recording of ‘The Big Questions’ hosted by Nicky Campbell, probably better known for his appearances on Watchdog. The programme features three questions which are debated by a selected studio audience and a panel of three better known guests which yesterday included Lord Steel, former leader of the Liberal Party and son of a Church of Scotland Minister and former Moderator. The question I was particularly interested in was, ‘Does the Devil Exist?’

Over 500 people attended the recent Fresh Expressions Conference at Lincoln Show Ground entitled ‘Changing the Landscape’. The conference was addressed by Archbishop Rowan Williams, Rev. Dr. Martyn Atkins, Bishop Graham Cray and many other leading supporters of the Fresh Expressions movement which is now into its second phase. What was particularly encouraging after nearly 6 years of the Fresh Expressions movement is that the leading figures in the Church of England, Methodist Church and now the URC are all still firmly behind the initiative.

As the British and American troops embark upon the latest phase in the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan, we are receiving all too frequent reports of soldiers being killed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or Roadside Bombs. We see the sombre scene in Wootton Bassett as the coffins are paraded through the streets watched by local residents, family and friends as they pay their respects to the deceased soldiers. There seems to be no end to the loss of life and, seemingly, no simple way of dealing with IEDs without endangering the lives of our troops.

I fished out my recording of the inauguration of Barack Obama from exactly one year ago today. I watched again as the millions of people gathered outside the White House shared emotionally in the historic moment when an African-American man was chosen to be the most powerful person on the planet. Many had tears in their eyes and sensed that they were witnessing a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moment. This was a moment that Martin Luther King could only dream about.

The news has finally filtered through that Wesley Owen, the Christian bookshop in the centre of Nottingham has closed its doors for the last time after 25 years of trading. I noticed how much it downsized when it moved from Heathcoat Street to its new premises on Castle Gate and with its parent company, IBS-STL in administration, it was only a matter of time for this cherished store to meet its end. Should we be sad? Do we need a shop which specialises only in Christian literature? Should we be trying to save the enterprise when there are so many pressing demands on our time and finances?

The realisation that contemporary society shows many alarming signs of having turned its back on God gave J.John the desire to reach out to people in a new and engaging way.

Check it Out is the youth outreach of Viz-A-Viz Ministries.

Using a brand new discovery course, schools' weeks featuring music and drama, concerts and working with churches and organisations Check it Out impacts young people with the Gospel.

Click on the links below to see how Check it Out can help you to reach out to young people with the life changing message of Jesus.

Experience a Quiet Day on a narrow boat on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Resources and web sites which relate to Evangelistic and Faith Sharing Courses. You can order the material from most of these sites.