THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE EDEN NETWORK

ALSO

Shane Claiborne

INCARNATIONALLIVING with kids!

BEING EXTRA ORDINARYBehind the scenes of the award-winning film series

TENTMAKERS AND LOTS MORE...

WHATS EARNING YOUR CRUST GOT TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITY?

WIN

AN

EXCLUSIVE

T-SHIRT

Page 15

Editor: Clare Hester

Art Director: Dan Hasler

Graphic Designer: Bethan Ranftler

Eden enquiries:t: 0845 194 8668e: info@eden-network.orgwww.eden-network.org

Eden Networks National Office is based at The Message Trust at:Lancaster House, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG

CONTENTS

We gather teams of people to relocate their lives into tough urban communities like those shown

in red on the map below partnering with local expressions of church.

For a full list of Eden locations: eden-network.org/regions

Our passion is to reach out to young people and their families, from within the community. Because our team members choose to live long-term in the neighbourhood they can really understand the

problems of those growing up there; they can become trusted friends as they daily express the love of Christ.

From our early days in the council estates and inner city streets of Manchester weve grown into a vibrant network spanning cities including London, the North East and Yorkshire.

WHAT IS THE EDEN NETWORK?

ON THE COVER | JAHAZIELOur cover this issue features Jahaziel, who you can find on page 7 talking about his music, God and Eden.

E eden-network.org/film6

4-5 | EDENS URBAN HEROES E eden-network.org/awards

6-7 | A WINDOW INTO EDENS WORLD

E eden-network.org/films

8-9 | EDEN TENTMAKERS TELL US HOW ITS DONE

eden-network.org/tentmakers

10 | 5 MINS WITH SHANE CLAIBORNE

E eden-network.org/shane

13 | THE EDITOR SPEAKS WITH SIMON DAVIDSON ABOUT LIFE WITH EDEN

| EDEN |

2 | EDEN

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE EDEN NETWORK

WHAT IS THE EDEN NETWORK?

Here I am, SEND ME Id heard a voice asking Who will go, who shall I send? and found my heart responding, Here I am, send me. Everything else the stigma attached to the postcode, the surrendering of competing dreams, the goodbye to my large, happening church all paled into insignificance in the light of that call on my life.

The contents of this little magazine wouldve blown my mind back then. I dont think I couldve ever imagined that God might not only work in and through us to impact that immediate neighbourhood, but that a fire would be started that would ultimately blaze throughout cities across the nation. Im absolutely thrilled that Eden is now playing a part in the transformation of communities in Sheffield, in Bradford, in Newcastle, in London as well as in numerous other towns in the most forgotten corners of the country. And theres much more to come!

So, turn the page, be inspired and consider what part you might be able to play as the Eden Network extends across the nation.

Matt WilsonNational Director

Follow his tweets @mattwi1s0n

Its hard to know which of the many decisions we make

in our lives will amount to anything in the light of eternity. As I look back on the thirty-something (OK, nearly forty) years of my life theres one decision that I am absolutely certain will still echo when Im gone. What was that decision? It was to leave behind the leafy avenue I called home and move into Britains most deprived neighbourhood. I feel so incredibly privileged to have been able to play a small part in the genesis and growth of the Eden Network.

Back in 1997 when, as part of a group of idealistic twenty-somethings, I relocated into that disadvantaged community in South Manchester, my hope and prayer was that God might use me to make a difference in the lives of a few young people and their families.

EDEN | 3

4 | EDEN

Nina, Manchester

Showing impressive leadership, local teenager Nina set up a club with Eden Harpurhey, North Manchester. It is attracting and helping young girls regularly in this disadvantaged part of the city.

Sid Williams, Eden youth worker, recognised leadership potential in Nina. One day he challenged her to think of something she and her friend could lead on the estate, for younger girls like herself. Eden was so welcoming and warm to us, they brought us in with open arms and we wanted to do that with Shine, said Nina. Something about the girls group was so attractive and exciting that all nine of the girls who were invited, completed the course.

Nina has an incredible rapport with them, she gets them, she knows where they are coming from, said Sid.Probably thousands of Eden hours have gone into Nina over the years, but you cant put a price on someone like Nina. To have a good volunteer who used to be one of the young people, whos come from the estate and done something incredible, is an amazing thing.

Lewis, Bradford

Lewis grew up on the Buttershaw estate in Bradford without a stable father figure in his life. His talent for free-running was spotted by the Eden team there and he was encouraged to use his gifts to help others. Lewis free running training sessions now attract up to 50.

It feels good to help the kids when they want to know how to do tricks. They are good kids. All they need is somebody to get them out of trouble. Free-running is just to get them out of trouble. Its a great sport and it feels good.

Every time we do a performance, said Gav Humphries, leader of Eden Buttershaw, we get a positive response not just on their tricks and flips, but their attitude and their enthusiasm for what they do its very infectious. He adds:

Lewis chooses to spend time with the kids and I dont hear him speaking a bad word about them. He is a man who goes against the culture of the estate and thats inspiring. He is providing a stable father figure for many.

E See more of Lewis in action on eden-network.org/film5

HEROES

Lewis, Bradford

Lewis grew up on the Buttershaw estate in Bradford without a stable father figure in his life. His talent for free-running was spotted by the Eden team there and he was encouraged to use his gifts to help others. Lewis free running training sessions now attract up to 50.

It feels good to help the kids when they want to know how to do tricks. They are good kids. All they need is somebody to get them out of trouble. Free-running is just to get them out of trouble. Its a great sport and it feels good.

Every time we do a performance, said Gav Humphries, leader of Eden Buttershaw, we get a positive response not just on their tricks and flips, but their attitude and their enthusiasm for what they do its very infectious. He adds:

Lewis chooses to spend time with the kids and I dont hear him speaking a bad word about them. He is a man who goes against the culture of the estate and thats inspiring. He is providing a stable father figure for many.

E See more of Lewis in action on eden-network.org/film5

Anth, Middlesbrough

Anth had a bad reputation as a troublemaker on the Easterside estate in Middlesbrough. Despite being a gifted footballer, he was excluded from school 48 times and was arrested and barred for life from his club, Middlesborough FC.

Anths life changed dramatically when he was invited to a meeting by Eden team leader, Tony Grainge, and had a powerful encounter with God. He started to see his life and his football very differently.

Now, says Anth. I want to help the younger lads on the estate to avoid going on the same path I did.

He can run small sessions on his own. says Tony. Hell text the lads, get it organised. Many look up to Anth. Hes now a reliable young man, said Grainge, and a pleasure to be around. He has become a key part of the Eden team. Its what I do the job for really to see young lads turn their life around, but most importantly to see them get to know God and to become passionate for God. Its not really about meeting me, its meeting God.

E Watch the full interviews on eden-network.org/awards

WE LOVE TO ENCOURAGE THE

YOUNG PEOPLE WERE JOURNEYING

WITH AND EVERY YEAR WE HOLD A

BIG EVENT THAT CELEBRATES HOW

FAR THEY HAVE COME. HERE ARE SOME

SNAPSHOTS OF THIS YEARS STORIES

HEROES

6 | EDEN

north london

A w i ndow i nto EDENS WORLD

Through our award-winning short films you can discover the different dimensions of life in the communities we serve. Real-life stories from team members and their neighbours, give you a flavour of how Eden interprets moving into the neighbourhood.

JahazieL: I always have this fear that I could be a success in the worlds eyes but a failure in Gods eyes and for me, success is coming to the end when God says like he did to Jesus you are my son in whom I am well pleased.

When I walk around the estate I dont see so much of the stereotypes poverty, drugs but I see so much life: youngsters, a varied community, elderly, different races, children. Such a melting pot of different cultures.

A few years ago I was a full-time Christian artist making Christian hip-hop

music travelling, touring and stuff and I was reasonably successful. But there was definitely an itch for something more than the music industry could offer, something more permanent.

I think there is a danger of Christianity becoming comfy, it being internal, forgetting the bigger picture and not sharing that blessing and the good news.

Moving here was a big step for us but we prayed, talked and thought about and felt confident it was what God wanted us to do.

E eden-network.org/film6

tollington

EDEN | 7

GAV: Every council estate has its own reputation I dont think these kids have less potential but maybe less opportunity. People have responded to the message that we bring of Gods love and Gods peace because its something that does resonate with them and its something that they long for.

Maz: 10 years ago I wouldnt have imagined something like this, I didnt even know this sort of thing existed. We visited on holiday and within three months we had moved up here. One of the greatest things about living on the estate is that we get to have an open home. Some of them get to have their first Sunday roast with us!

BRAD-FORD

TONY: Working with Eden is a continuation of whats already been happening on the estate, but now the church has a full team of people to do it. So weve got girls groups, young mums, boxing and football for the lads. On Easterside the problems on the estate are the same as estates across Britain anti-social behaviour, drugs, high youth unemployment and we know we can make a difference and we are seeing peoples lives turning around.

Mid-dles-brough

E eden-network.org/film3

Jackie & Simon: Where I grew up a lot of people went to Sunday school and there was a knowledge and a background Christian faith even if it wasnt active and alive. Here we are starting from a much lower threshold and for many the priority is to put most of their energy into just coping with everyday life, struggling to get by on benefits. You cant solve everything. You cant save everyone thats Jesus who does that. But you can hold their hand.

west london

E eden-network.org/film2

A w i ndow i nto EDENS WORLD

E eden-network.org/film5

WATCH MORE AT EDEN-NETWORK.ORG/FILMS

NOTTING BARNS

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT LIFE ON AN EDEN TEAM IS THAT YOUR FOOTPRINT IS SMALLER. WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE, SO WHY NOT LET IT BE NEAR THE PEOPLE GODS GIVEN YOU A HEART FOR? YOU CAN STILL BE INVOLVED WITH THEIR LIVES WHILST KEEPING YOUR DAY JOB. MEET CHRIS & STEVE, FLATMATES ON THE DALGARNO ESTATE, WEST LONDON, PART OF THE NEWLY FORMED EDEN TEAM.

Getting to know people

has been really easy!

8 | EDEN

CHRIS WHITTAKER manager of nearby supermarket

I did the Genetik course in Manchester in 2003, and worked with several of the Eden teams then. I loved working with young people on the estates, and told God I wanted to stay up there. But he asked me to go to University instead! After my degree I moved to London to work. A few years later, when I heard Eden was planning on teams in London, I told God I wanted to get involved and this time he said Yes!

Living on the estate means I see the young people when I pop to the shops or Im coming home from work. If there are lots of them on the streets, we take a ball or frisbee out to the open areas on the estate and have got to know them quite well now. We also have got to know the youth team at the local council community centre, who invited us to get involved with some of their youth clubs.

The community is becoming my community, instead of a community Im serving. Im living alongside people, experiencing the same social issues, seeing the same sights and smelling the same smells. It brings authenticity to my youth work and my life in general. Living on the estate, chatting to people all the time I find that Im praying a lot more into specific issues and peoples lives, and this has made me much more passionate in my prayer life.

STEVE HUXFORD customer services for local Council

I grew up in Cornwall and heard about Eden, through The Message, but didnt think about moving to Manchester. After a few years of living in London, I visited a church the same day Andy Hawthorne was visiting to launch Eden London. It felt like God was prompting me to look into joining a team. I imagined every evening taken up with youthwork, but it turned out to be nothing like that! Eden asks five hours a week from volunteers which is a couple of sessions. You do it with a team and you are all looking out for each other. I have a local job and the hours are 9-5 so I have plenty of spare time to relax and see friends or recover emotionally if I need to.

Another reason I was reticent at first, was because I didnt think I was up to it as a Christian thought only super spiritual Christians should apply. I didnt feel like Id have what it takes. But I realised when I met them that they were all pretty normal. I was reminded that Moses wasnt anything special and like me, he kept coming up with lots of reasons why he couldnt do what God was asking him to do.

I thought I would find it impossible to talk to the kids and get to know people in the area. But getting to know people has been really easy!

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT LIFE ON AN EDEN TEAM IS THAT YOUR FOOTPRINT IS SMALLER. WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE, SO WHY NOT LET IT BE NEAR THE PEOPLE GODS GIVEN YOU A HEART FOR? YOU CAN STILL BE INVOLVED WITH THEIR LIVES WHILST KEEPING YOUR DAY JOB. MEET CHRIS & STEVE, FLATMATES ON THE DALGARNO ESTATE, WEST LONDON, PART OF THE NEWLY FORMED EDEN TEAM.

For more on

being an Eden team

member like Chris o

r

Steve visit

www.eden-network

.

org/tentmakers

Getting to know people

has been really easy!

EDEN | 9

10 | EDEN

But dont the well-off

need God too?

Thats true God is rescuing some from ghettoes of poverty and some from ghettoes of wealth. In our culture wealthy individualism breeds real suffering. Why is it that the richest people also have the highest rates of loneliness, suicide and depression? Theres something healing for all of us when we bear each others burdens thats what were made for.

Our world is so broken can

we really change anything?

The most powerful change starts very small. It comes out of the integrity of peoples lives the 12 disciples were a very small minority but had a large ripple!

Think imaginatively about how to be distinctively Christian, think deeply about the issues in the community and latch onto the root causes. Also, to change the world we must change ourselves first. Saving society starts with us.

How do you stop yourself

from being just another

service provider?

We believe that our relationships are key, so we arent just focused on providing the best meals or the best homework club. We try not to let the brokerage of services hijack the relationships.

with

Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne is one of the founders of The

Simple Way, a faith community in inner-

city Philadelphia with many similarities to

Eden. Whilst he was in England spending time

with our teams we asked him for his thoughts on

a range of issues:

Enjoy the full

interview E

eden-network.

org/shane

FIVEminuTES

How do you approach living

amidst poverty?

We talk about exegeting our neighbourhood: reading it in light of scripture and trying to figure out what are the beautiful things that are there and what things are broken. We live this way because it feels like what were made for. The only reason it looks radical is because of the kind of Christianity weve become used to.

Does the gospel contain a

special slant towards the

poor?

Without a doubt the incarnation of Jesus is about entering into the suffering of the world. The God of the universe leaves the comforts of heaven to move into a neighbourhood where they said nothing good can come from. I often see people coming alive as they re-orient around the needs of the suffering.

EDEN | 11

Find out more about the process of joining a team on page 14

FIVEminuTES

EXTRA ORDINARY FAMILY Years of praying for an opportunity to serve God somewhere as a family came to an end when we heard an interview on Premier Radio mentioning Eden. It sounded like just what we were looking for: being able to reach out to a poor community on our doorstep. So I looked into it online and saw they were looking for people in Gorton, Manchester.

Our two boys, William and Harrison, were a key part of our move. The fact the boys were so young had almost stopped us going on mission in the past what if their education suffered or they were bullied? But we felt God clearly saying, Im more than capable of looking after your children trust me. And every single step of the way, God has opened a door.

We found it was very easy in leafy suburbia to become

Last year, Mike and Julia Fleet

moved onto an Eden estate with their two

young children. Here Julia

reflects on their remarkable

move.

THE FLEETS

quite complacent life was comfortable and often not very challenging. Up here, yes, weve had discomfort spiritually and physically but thats brought us closer together and made us stronger.

There are still strains on family life not least being burgled. But even that was turned into a blessing as we all learned more about putting our security in God alone. Our youngest Harrison was really shaken up by the burglary, and wondered why God had allowed it when he said hed protect us.

But one day while he was praying, he felt God spoke to him, You are a mighty warrior and everything changed for him. For Harrison to have grabbed hold of that is amazing. I really dont think that would have happened if we hadnt brought him on this adventure with God with us.

2 | EDEN

Though we tend to see them as separate... theyre actually the same thing Mission and discipleship are two concepts that we tend to keep in their own separate boxes.

The discipleship box is quite cosy it has carpet! The prevailing image is of a huddle of people, sitting on comfy chairs with tea and cake. The mission box is much more hectic full of really loud people trying to get out!

But I think its time to take mission and discipleship out of their boxes, tear the boxes up, recycle them! Let me explain.

When we ask the question Who is God and what is he up to in the world?, parables like the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son (Luke 15:1-10) give the answer in a nutshell: something incredibly valuable has been lost and God is on a mission to find it and to bring it home.

These stories reveal the incredible energy and dynamism within the character of God, they hint at the million different ways hes breathing out I love you. They also explain why many theologians describe God using the term missio dei the God who exists in mission, the God who is up all night looking for us!

Our calling is to know Gods love to receive it and to let it become the centre of who we are. Were called to know our loved-ness. Some people, even Christians, have never received this love and so struggle conveying it to others. To experience Gods love is to

encounter missio dei because we realise then that he found us before we found him.

We hear his voice deep in our core saying, I love you. You are incredibly valuable to me.A genuine experience of Gods love brings change from the inside out. Brokenness becomes restored and slowly but surely love becomes our core, we discover a new purpose for being. Embracing and enacting that new purpose is the process we call discipleship.

So lets ditch the boxes, because discipleship and mission are fused together. By experiencing Gods love and being transformed into the likeness of Christ weve begun a journey of mission with him. To follow Jesus is to be on a mission, a mission in which love is our drive and also our method. With this in mind the mandate for every disciple is found in John 21:20 as the Father sent me, I am sending you. Therefore, our daily prayer must be, Lord, who are you, and how can I be more like you?

MISSION & DISCIPLESHIP

Anna Thompson Eden Network National Development Coordinator

Follow her tweets @anna_thompson

eden-network.org/formation

EDEN | 13

So what advice would you give anybody contemplating inner-city mission?

Have somebody local to be really accountable to

that you meet with regularly enough somebody who will ask hard questions, give them permission to speak into your life. It helps to avoid a shipwreck when you have sticky moments.

Give yourself permission to take time out when you need it and to pace yourself or you will head for burnout.

Know what a win looks like. Often we want it

to be making disciples and we are comforted by large numbers. But its really simple to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Its all about doing the right thing for the right reasons, walking closely with God and not being so bothered about the results.

Of course we all long for more disciples, and yes, there will be exciting stuff. But when theres hard stuff we need to be clear that a win is our being obedient to God and our walk with him is the most important part then the win gets you through tough decisions.

Dont for a minute think you have to be

a superhero, just be obedient to God. A lot of the Old Testament characters God called on and even Jesus disciples werent super-skilled people, they were just willing to be used by God. When Eden talks about being extra ordinary, its not that you are some ordinary person with hidden super powers. In God and through obedience we will have all that we need.

Simon Davidson, Hattersley Eden team leader, took the leap from hotel management to youth work, several years ago. If I had a personal motto, it would go something like, under-promise, over-deliver! said Simon in response to another one of my questions. Seven years down the line and Simon has learnt a lot from the highs and lows of walking with young people in the Hattersley area. In half an hours conversation, I felt like he shared with me gold, pure gold, from which I could build a survival kit for the urban jungle. Here are some highlights from a recent interview. CLARE HESTER

1.

3.

SIMON & SANDRA DAVIDSON

OVER DELIVER2.

INTIE

RV

IEW

WITH

THE

ED

Under Promise

14 | EDEN

For larger

donations

eden-network.org

/

giving

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Or phone

0845 194

8668

To request an application pack

email sendme@eden-network.org

Team members are the substance of Eden, they are the people who live on the ground as salt and light in an inner-city area.

TEAM MEMBERS Livewith,supportandencourage other team members

Befriendyoungpeopleand families in the area that they live

Volunteeranaverageofsixhours a week in the community, running youth activities, discipleship groups and using their gifts in sport, music or the creative arts

Eden provides all team members with ongoing training and development through its Formation programme.

This year we are praying for 100 people to begin the journey with us by joining a team. Is God calling you to be one of them? The process of joining an Eden team is deliberately designed to help you prayerfully work out if Eden is right for you and you are right for Eden.

We currently have vacancies in

Greater LondonGreater ManchesterNorth EastYorkshire Humberside

(Soon to be developing teams in Merseyside)

TO WIN AN EXCLUSIVE

T-SHIRT* Send us an email to

tshirt@eden-network.org

TELL US: What part of the country you live in & where you

would love to be sent (in your wildest dreams!)

*We will pull out one winner every week over the summer

GIVING:You can make a small gift very quickly and simply by text.Thegiftcanbeassmallas 1 but no bigger than 10. 100% of your gift will go to Eden, but you will not be able to Gift Aid the donation.

TEXT:

EDEN01 10

TO:

70070For larger

donations

eden-network.org

/

giving

KEEP IN TOUCH & PRAYIf you want regular news from us, please send us an email to news@eden-network.org

COMPETITION

HERE I AM SEND ME

JOIN THE MOVEMENT