NEWS
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Rev Bob Wilson, Free Churches Faith Adviser, has spent some time lately reflecting on these verses and sharing some of the powerful ways in which the work he does as a prison chaplain himself and with other prison chaplains is inspired and informed by this affirmation from Jesus.
In a recent article in The Connexion Magazine he writes that in John 8:12 “Jesus promises life characterised by the very light that shines from his innermost being to all who follow him. What a promise! What a challenge.”
Bob goes on to consider the Biblical context of these words from Jesus: “This was such a radical statement that the pharisees were enraged, saying words to the effect: “Who says so? … Just you? … That’s not a valid testimony.” Two thousand years later we still bear testimony to the truth of Jesus’ words and the folly of the pharisees.
Bob tells us some of the ways these words have been powerfully evident in the work and ministry of prison chaplains with those they serve in prison. Bob, who has been serving in prisons since 1995, says he has repeatedly witnessed the light of life shining from those whom we often see as being consumed by darkness.
I heard a violent offender in a Christian rehabilitative community say to a gentle Christian volunteer “You have helped me to learn how to talk again.”
In an inner-city prison I have seen an habitual self-harmer in tears of joy as he laughed with his group leader who couldn’t play Monopoly without cheating.
On a 12-step recovery course I heard a man in his fifties dogged by addiction all his life say finally “I can’t do this on my own, I really do need help.”
In a prison chapel I have seen a man transformed by the simple act of saying the Lord’s Prayer and realising for the first time what he was saying.
In churches around the country I have seen people who have left prison and found welcome, freedom and acceptance in a way that has led them to safely live life in the fullness for which Jesus died.
Bob concludes his poignant article: “The deepest truth of the Gospels is arguably the light of Jesus, the one whom the artist William Holman Hunt characterises as standing at the closed door, which has no handle and so from a prisoner’s perspective is a like a cell door. When given the chance, Jesus’ light does indeed invade our darkness. I have seen that light transform, bring peace, bring joy, bring hope, bring life. The light of life in the darkest places… what a promise! What a challenge.”
Reproduced with permission from the connexion, the free magazine of the Methodist Church
To receive a free copy, sign up HERE.
To find out more about the vital work of our Free Church prison chaplains HERE.
(cover photo courtesy of Yeshi Kangrang @ Unsplash)
Rounded: Ready for Life: launch event coming up soon!
Are you working with young people aged 16 to 19 years old?
We are delighted to announce that there is a new resource to support 16-19s in college and beyond. This has been developed by the West Midlands Churches’ Further Education Council. There will be a launch event (hosted at lunchtime on 16th March and early evening on 17th March).
ROUNDED is WM Churches' Further Education Council's new Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development resource for 16-19s in college and beyond.
It comprises six interactive, flexible-format sessions cover different character dispositions which can help young people prepare for an ethical and fruitful life.
We'd love you to join us for one of the two launch events above. Session will include:
Demo of one of the interactive films
Introduction to ROUNDED and how to use it
Hear from ROUNDED's creator, Simeon Whiting
Time for questions
To take part, please email Ms Lynne Hayes-James indicating which session you would like to join. You will then receive a Zoom link a few days before the event.
(cover photo courtesy of Fang-Wei Lin @ Unsplash)
Explore values and virtues which will help 16-19 year olds grow as rounded individuals
Are you working with young people aged between 16 and 19 years old?
The West Midlands Churches’ Further Education Council has prepared some thought-provoking and interesting resources entitled Ready for Life in six different topic areas:
CULTIVATING IDENTITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING
BEING FAIR AND JUST
BEING MERCIFUL AND FORGIVING
BEING THANKFUL
CARING FOR OTHERS, ANIMALS & THE ENVIRONMENT
BEING HOPEFUL AND VISIONARY
Explore values and virtues which will help 16-19 year olds grow as rounded individuals.
For further information and to find out how to order your copy:
(cover photo courtesy of Eliott Reyna @ Unsplash)
We have a new Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy starting tomorrow!
Rev Meg Burton, who has been diligently serving for many months, as Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy for the FCG, is pleased to announce that her successor has been appointed. May we take this opportunity to thank Meg for all of her hard work in this role as we usher in the new Secretary. We will, in due course, have the chance to thank Meg more fully, but for now, here is some background on Meg’s successor!
It is Rev. Dr. Mark Newitt (pictured below). Mark is an Anglican and has been a chaplain in Sheffield for 15 years, working at both the Teaching Hospital and, more recently, at St Luke's Hospice. Meg writes, “like many of us, Mark has been influenced by, and has experience of, several different denominations, both while he was growing up (Salvation Army, Methodist and Baptist) and since working as a healthcare chaplain.”
Mark has been one of the leaders of the Yorkshire and Humber Chaplaincy Research Group and is also Book Review Editor of the journal Health and Social Care Chaplaincy. He brings a wealth of experience and fresh eyes to the role.
Mark will begin working with us tomorrow and Meg will leave once he has settled in, so there will be time for a hand-over. Congratulations, Mark, and welcome!
“Mark is looking forward to working with Free Church Healthcare chaplains and understands the theology, values and practice that have inspired the Free Churches for many centuries.”
Rev Dr Mark Newitt
Praying for Prison Chaplains
Prison Fellowship invite us to pray for prison chaplains on the last Sunday of February. This has been a particularly challenging and difficult time for those serving as chaplains in our prisons, so join us as we offer heartfelt prayers to God for their work and who they seek to support and minister to.
Living God,
We ask God to give prison chaplains insight to see where the need is greatest, guidance to direct their attention to the men, women and young people in their care who are most in need of support.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen
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May I also invite us all to pray for the work of Rev Bob Wilson, Secretary for Prison Chaplaincy and Free Churches Faith Adviser, in the chaplaincy work he does at his local prison, as well as all the vital work he does to support Free Church prison chaplains across England and Wales.
Sara Iles, FCG Media Support Officer
Bob Wilson is the Free Churches Faith Advisor to both publicly and privately run prisons. This work sees him regularly visiting all 124 establishments across England and Wales for both pastoral support of Prison Chaplains, and to support prison management in their recruitment needs.
(cover photo courtesy of Jon Tyson @ Unsplash)