Barnabas Ministries UK

Gavin Peacock

TV PUNDIT SET TO QUIT FOR THEOLOGY DEGREE

TV football pundit Gavin Peacock will quit his role with the BRC to pursue a career in the church at the conclusion of this sum­mer’s Euro 2008 finals.

The former Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder is emigrating to Canada later year to begin a three-year Masters degree in Divinity at Ambrose Seminary. The 40-year-old will then decide whether to become a pastor, vicar or minister at the end of his studies.

Since last September, Peacock has been studying for a BA in Theology at a college in Cambridge. The TV pundit, who is a regular on Football Focus and Match of the Day 2, has been a Christian since he was 19 and has combined his religious studies during his footballing career.

At QPR, Peacock hosted a Bible study group for footballers. He recently combined his role with hosting Songs of Praise.

Pauline Jacobi,

WOMAN, 93, LEAVES ROBBER IN TEARS

An armed robber who threatened to shoot a 93-year-old was left in tears when the plucky woman confronted him and told him he’d end up in hell.

Pauline Jacobi, of Dyersburg, Ten­nessee, was getting into her car after shopping at a supermarket when the man jumped in and demanded money.

He then told Ms Jacobi that if she didn’t pay up he would shoot her.

But the defiant elderly woman refused and instead told him about her faith.

Ms Jacobi said she replied: “No! I’m not giving you my money. Even if you kill me, I’ll go to heaven and you’ll go to hell”

She then urged him to ask God for forgiveness.

Brave Ms Jacobi then told the robber: “Jesus is in this car and He goes with me wherever I go.”

Ms Jacobi then witnessed to the man for about ten minutes by which tears were in his eyes.

Finally, the would-be attacker told Ms Jacobi he had better go home and pray, to which she replied that God could hear him anywhere and any time.

With tears streaming down his face, the man sheepishly left the car with 10$ in his hand, voluntarily given to him by this elderly Good Samaritan, who told him: “Don’t you spend the money on whiskey, either!”

The man kissed her on the cheek the car and walked away leaving Jacobi unharmed.

 Ms Jacobi, who reads her Bible every believed it was her strong faith that kept her going in life.

She told reporters: “It was God using me. I’m a shy person, really. What happened there was the Lord using me.

He had such sad eyes,” she added. “The cap over his face made him look unkempt, but his eyes weren’t mean-looking.

“I asked him his name. He said it was Ricky and he was from Halls.

“Then I asked him, ‘Ricky, would like to go to heaven?’

“Yes, I sure would,’ he said, ‘But I’m afraid the Lord won’t take me.”

Ms Jacobi then said she told him: “Yes He will. He will take you if youbelieve.”

Meanwhile, police are still search­ing for the robber.

Matthew Hayden

HAYDEN’S BOWLED OVER BY HIS FAITH

Most bowlers fear Australia’s hard hitting Matthew Hayden.

But if they knew what the star has behind him they might he even more frightened:

The opening batsman, known for his aggressive power at the crease, is a devout Christian and has revealed his real strength comes from God.

He said: “When batting, I make this sign of the cross on my palm. I love doing that because when I make the cross across the middle I have a little saying that goes ‘What­ever happens today, it’s for you’. That’s part of what I do. I love that part of the day!

The sign of the cross is a very powerful symbol. To me, making that sign is a mo­ment as euphoric as making a test ‘100. It’s just a general mark to say, in a really good time in my life, which I’m celebrating now, I remember you.

“There are lots of other times in my life where it’s not so positive. But I’ll always start a prayer or a conversation with God with the same mark of respect. It’s not that ever hear too much back, but in that gentle way, starting that conversation, and opening up my life to him really helps me.”

Hayden, once a world record holder for the highest ever Test Match score of 380, admits the Christian life has its challenges.

He said: “I think it’s very challenging to live as a Christian in terms of modern-day society. I think it’s very difficult as a young adult and I think I really struggled with that over a long period of time.

“But I guess it’s in that struggle that I find the most benefit from it, and I guess Christ all those years ago was saying exactly the same thing. While I struggle with faith and how it’s presented, I understand that it’s just a great part of my life, which in all sorts of scenarios gives me great guidance.

Rev. E. Anderson

ALL CHANGE FOR NICOLA

Nicola, Leicestershire girl, born 1977. She says that much of her childhood was a bit of a daze. Her parents argued endlessly and she thinks that her brain has mentally blocked out those times. Consequently, she spent hours searching for love in the wrong places with the wrong people.

By the time Nicola was 13   most weekends were spent with friends “steaming” on Diamond White  or Stoned  on cannabis.

She thought she had a good group of mates, but looking back she realises that they were just like her search­ing for love but unable to find it.

In 1992 her father became Christian turning away from his workaholic lifestyle. The changes in him as a husband and father were so remark-able her mother became a Christian too. Nicola says, “My mother experienced a dramatic life change and after being ill for the majority of her life, she was cured through prayer”. This was to be the beginning of a new direction in life.

Also in 1992 Nicola met her husband David, look­ing back, she now believes that this was a direct result of the prayers of her parents although she did not believe any of that at the time. Nicola says “We had our first baby when I was only 15. I left school with no qualifications and a year later our daughter was born. It wasn’t easy, the sleep-less nights, dirty nappies, teething rings and sick filled bibs. Added to that, postnatal depression was torture, I felt trapped! I was living away from home, most of my friends were still at school and 1 wasn’t old enough to drive.”

A second daughter was born three years later. Dave and Nicola didn’t know whether to separate or just get married, they married in April 1998. “My reason for marrying was purely selfish – I wanted to have the same surname as my children (not the best reason for marrying),” says Nicola There was no big white wedding, just the two of them and the witness. The foundations were shaky. Soon after, Nicola suffered a painful eptopic pregnancy as well as a miscarriage.

“Things had to change; I decided I’d had enough of our relationship as things were not going well. But to my surprise, David decided he wanted to start going to church. He joined Harvest Commu­nity Church, and what a difference I saw in him! There were Valentine presents, washing up, spending time with our daughters, and best of all, the words “I love you” were spoken. This was a change I never thought I would see in him.”

“Well, I wasn’t far behind him; the changes in David made me realise that this Christian thing must have some truth in it. Slightly apprehensive I attended the church on occasional Sundays. I began to experience a newfound love and faith! Over a space of nine months we discovered a new life, this time filled with unconditional love. This was the love that I had been searching for when I was growing up. It was a love that no hu­man can possibly give. It was the Heavenly Father’s love Jesus came into my life and helped turn it around. I am now a fitness instruc­tor and David has become an outdoor education instructor something he thought he would never be. Our third child is due and this time we don’t feel alone because Jesus is with us.”

Richard Tipler

I TURNED MY BACK ON PORN INDUSTRY

PORN magazine boss Richard Tipler has told us how he quit the seedy business after a night stranded in a Kenyan airport changed his life.

The ex-copper, who committed serious fraud, turned to adult entertainment after quitting the Metropolitan Police.

After leaving his job with the Met, Richard walked out on his wife and son and was living in a derelict house. He found his way into the “girlie” magazines business.

At one stage he had bank accounts in five different names, but says he was seen as a “loveable rogue” in his local village.

But Richard felt a massive impact on his life after getting stuck in Kenya on his way to Malawi.

He said: “The clerk at Nairobi Airport told me my ticket was not valid. He told me I’d have to remain in Kenya. I didn’t know anyone and had never been abroad before.

“After a very disturbed night reassessing and trying to reassure myself, I saw a face in a large crowd. I asked her for help. She immediately ordered: ‘Come with me’.”

Later that night, Richard found himself with 16 American missionaries reading the Bible.

He remained in Africa for four weeks, clearly impacted by his encounter with the missionaries. But it was only on his return to Britain that he finally found faith.  An old friend, who happened t6 be an Anglican vicar, soon met him, and Richard made the decision to become a Christian.

And despite vowing to never marry again, he tied the knot three years ago after meeting a girl named Tracey at the church he was attending in Sheffield.

They then moved from the South Yorkshire city to Bude in Cornwall, where they chose their new church and work together for the church.

Richard said: “Tracey has talents and gifts that I do not have and vice-versa. We began to realise that Jesus was the focus of our relationship that without him there was no relationship.

“Our wedding was an amazing time of joyous reconciliation. My son Paul, now aged 34, was best man, my brother Michael acted as witness. Family relationships that had been lost 40 years earlier were restored.”

Derek Jefferson

WOLVES STAR TURNED TO BOOZE FOR AN ANSWER

Retired defender is planning to bring Hope to the West Midlands this month.

As part of the Hope 08 initiative, former Wolves and Ipswich defender’ Derek Jefferson will hold coaching sessions and tell youngsters about finding faith.

Derek, who worked alongside the likes of Bobby Robson during his career, will coach in the Dudley region from March 31 to April 5.

After the coaching, he aims to share his powerful life story and how he turned to God.

Derek - who was nicknamed Chopper because of his reputation as a ‘hard man’ defender - revealed how he turned to alcohol after his two year old daughter died and his marriage broke down.

But all was to change when he visited his parents one weekend in Middlesborough.

EXCESSIVE

He recalls, ‘I decided at this point that there could not be a loving God and tried to fill my emptiness by drinking heavily and living an excessive lifestyle.

‘It was while visiting my parents in Middlesborough just after my marriage broke down that I attended a church service which was to change my life com­pletely.

‘During the service a young man explained how God had changed his life. He talked about Jesus as a real person and of the forgiveness of God that he had experienced.

I found myself crying. I wanted what he had. I needed a new start. I had never really had any peace in my life and that night I found peace I had not known before. It has stayed with me ever since.’

Derek, after becoming reserve team coach at Bir­mingham City under Jim Smith, says his life ‘took on a new dimension’.

‘I was involved in football at the highest level but had a sense of peace and purpose I had never had before,’ he added.

He remarried to Linda, the daughter of a minister, and the couple now have six children between them.

After five years at Birmingham, Derek felt called to give up football and devote more time to his family and local church

Shortly afterwards, he launched Sports Pursuits, a football training organisation that gives Derek the opportunity to share about God.

‘I firmly believe that if God asks you to give some thing up he replaces it with something better. ! gave up football but now help youngsters to enjoy sport and improve their skills. I also show them how being a Christian can help them to enjoy it even more.’

For more information on Derek’s organisation, visit www.sportspursuits.org

Rev. E. Anderson

Bible saves stabbing victim

By Matthew Murray

A teenager escaped serious injury when knife-wielding yobs stabbed a BIBLE in his pocket.

The teenager regularly attends a Christian youth group held at Emmanuel Christian Centre in Walthamstow, London.

And pastor Dez Brown from the church believes God spared the boy, who he has asked us not to name, from further injury.

He told New Life, ‘There had been a bit of trouble between some gangs, and they were going for revenge for him for another attack.

‘As the attacker went for him, he stabbed the Bible instead of the young lad.

‘The boy comes to the youth group every week. I asked him to give his testimony at the youth group but he was a little shy. It’s quite a remarkable story.’

PAIN

Mr Brown, who himself served a prison sentence as a 17-year-old for stabbing someone to death, knows all about the dangers of knife crime.

He said the attack on the teenager was part of a craze known as ‘jucking’, where attackers stab their victims but don’t mean to inflict serious injury.

Instead, they pierce the skin of their victim, hoping to cause minor pain, which will result in a few stitches.

Other members of Emmanuel Christian Centre have experienced similar incidents, Mr Brown said.

Earlier this year, a member of the congregation was raped and attacked by a gang, before having acid thrown over her body in an effort to destroy DNA evidence.

Despite the dangers, however, Mr Brown admits he enjoys pastoring in London. He believes that no situations are impossible for God to impact.

He added, ‘Because of my own experience and past, I am not fazed by such trouble. I know that God can reach in and touch lives, just like he changed my own life.’

The church has started regular work in schools and with the police to combat problems within their community. Their Spark2Life project has earned them several awards.

Senior pastor Doug Williams said counselling the victims was ‘heartbreaking’.

‘The only answer I have in the face of such things is that I still believe in the power of the Gospel. I believe the Gospel has the power to change a heart.’

Joanne Cash

TESTIMONY OF JOHNNY CASH’S SISTER

JOANNE CASH is describing the last time she saw her famous brother alive. “It was just before midnight and he opened his eyes and I told him:

‘John, just take the hand of Jesus. It’s okay, you can go! And he slipped away!’

She remembers:” And of course it hit the news media the next morning and it was everywhere. Johnny said to me just a few days before he passed, ‘Do you think anybody will really care? ‘l said, ‘John You know better than that’ He said, ‘Nah, I just wondered if anybody would care:

When the time came, his face was all over newspapers across the world. Joanne remembers: “Here in Tennessee, on our home newspaper there was a whole front page photo of him and it said, ‘GOODBYE MR CASH: But Johnny didn’t realise how wonderful he was:’

The film Walk The Line gave a fairly accurate portrayal of the poverty of the Cash family. “There were seven of us:’ Joanne remembers, “I’m next to the youngest of seven. Our family life in Arkansas on the cotton farm was very hard work. My daddy was a very hardworking Southern cotton farmer and all he knew in his life was hard work. He was raised from what we call the ‘old school’, where you literally had to dig life out of the dirt.

“The film showed that my daddy was a little irritable with Johnny but that was because daddy didn’t understand how Johnny singing songs could earn him a living. But of course later on daddy knew that it was his calling to sing:’

Johnny Cash’s success transformed the family and brought all kinds of changes, not just financially. Can she remember what it was like when he was breaking through in the late Fifties?

“Johnny had become what we call an overnight superstar:’ She says, “I remember he drove his first Cadillac into our little farm driveway and he said, ‘Baby, you wanna go with me to a show?’ So I we with him up to Jonesboro where he was having show. And on the way there he said, ‘Now baby I’ gonna bring a guy out and he’s gonna warm up crowd and then they’re gonna bring the star out. said, ‘Who’s the star?’ He said, ‘Me:! said, ‘You’re just my brother!’

She laughs at the memory and continues: “We got there and he took me backstage and then this young man came out to warm up the show. When he came off and Johnny went on, I went back an talked to the young man for an hour and a half. That was my introduction to Elvis Presley! About a yea before Johnny passed away he said, ‘You remember that show I took you to, when you met Elvis?’! said ‘Oh yeah, I remember: He said, ‘You didn’t watch do my show!’! said, ‘Well absolutely not. You’re my brother. I went back and talked to Elvis!”‘

Joanne was brought up in a family where faith was important and she observes: “Well, I knew about Jesus, but in 1970 had come out of a bad marriage. My life was messed up with the drugs and alcohol but on October 18th 1970, I got saved. Johnny knew what I was. I was working for him at his office, the House of Cash, and I met a woman there who ha invited me to church. Johnny had rented a little six-seater aeroplane to fly down to south Arkansas and back the day before for a Cash family reunion. On the way back we ran into a hailstorm. It was horrible. We didn’t any of us think that we’d make it, and of course God landed the plane.’

She continues: “The next day was Sunday and walked into that church and I had promised God give him my life if he’d save my life. So I went down to an old-fashioned altar and the Lord met me there, and I had one of those wonderful transformation salvations. He totally forgave me and delivered me from the drugs and alcohol, and even the desire them and I’ve been free ever since.

“That’s when faith exploded in me, and I knew that I’d been born again. And you know what? I’ll put my arms around Him and then He’s gonna say, ‘Welcome home baby!’ in that deep voice, ‘Welcome home baby!’ I know that’s what He’s gonna say.”

Jelena Jankoovic

RUGBY LEGEND IS TOP CONVERT! – Jonathan Webb

FORMER England full back Jonathan Webb thought he knew everything there was to know about a conversion.

The rugby star - who played 33 times for his coun­try - competed against the world’s best players in his impressive career.

But he experienced a dif­ferent kind of conversion one day after turning to the Bible to help him cope with the pressures of the interna­tional game.

He said, ‘The teachings of Jesus are not terribly comfortable, but he does comfort in times of hardship and assures you that ulti­mately he is in control’

Now retired from rugby, Jonathan - whose parents were missionaries in India - is an orthopedic surgeon. He says his faith in God helps him in such a pres­sured job, and thanks God for his strong Christian up bringing.

‘Christ was always there but perhaps I did very well at ignoring him and living my own life. But now my faith over-arches everything. It’s all-encompassing and, al­though at times I find it hard, it governs what I do.’

MY HELP BEHIND ACE WIN

TENNIS sensation Jelena Jankoovic says God helped her pull off a shock victory over Serena Williams.

The Serbian, who mentions her faith on her My Space site, reached the semifinals of the Australian Open after beating the American star.

Jankovic, now a UNICEF ambassador, said after the match where she beat Tamira Paszek, which then took her through to the semis, ‘I was praying, actually, “Please, God, help me get out of the situa­tion.”

‘I didn’t want to go home, that was what was driving me, what was pushing me to go forward.

‘I never gave up. It was like, God, please, be on my side today.’

Despite then going on to beat one of the top class Wil­liams sisters, Jankovic eventu­ally lost in the semis to eventual winner Maria Sharapova.

Kaka holding the trophy

VESTED INTEREST

HE’S ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST

footballers. But what Kaka wants eve­ryone to know above all else is that he belongs to Jesus.

Brazilian sensation Kaka is a commit­ted Christian, giving a great testimony of faith as he amazes crowds with his silky skills and fantastic flair.

The AC Milan ace gained huge press coverage when his team overcame Liverpool in last year’s UEFA Champions League Final.

After scoring the winner, be ripped off his T-shirt to reveal the words ‘I belong to Jesus’ written proudly on his vest.

Kaka’s extravagant faith statements didn’t stop there, though.

After being named Fifa’s World Player of the Year in 2007, he publicly thanked God. ‘The Bible says God can give you more than you even ask for and that is what has happened in my life,’ he said.

More recently, he hit the headlines again when he announced he was donat­ing the prestigious trophy to his home church in Brazil.

The gold-plated masterpiece is now on display in the entrance of a Sao Paulo branch of the Apostolic Reborn in Christ Church, of which Kaka is a devoted member.

‘I deliver this up joyfully to God, because he is the reason behind every vic­tory’, reads the inscription on the trophy. Curious fans and regular churchgoers have flocked to see the trophy since it was put on display in early February.

‘There is a great deal of interest. Peo­ple come in, some of them take photos,

and their admiration is plain to see,’ said a preacher at the church.

Kaka has won the admiration of anxious parents in his home nation, ad­vocating and practising sexual abstinence before marriage.

In a rare stance for a professional footballer, he announced he was a virgin when he married Caroline Celico in 2005.

The footballer, who was born to a middle-class family in Brazil, said that he became deeply religious when he was 12 years old.

‘I learned that it is faith that decides whether something will happen or not. We can only win by being on Jesus’ side’, He added. His commitment  to God was strengthened in October 2000 when he slipped on a swimming pool slide and broke a vertebra.

‘The doctors said that I was lucky to be able to walk normally,’ he said.

‘They were talking about luck and my family was talking about God. We knew that it was God’s hand that had saved me.’

In terms of declaring his faith, Kaka has been there, done it and bought the T-shirt.

He first wore his ‘I belong to Jesus’ vest when Milan won Serie A in 2004 and has ‘God is faithful’ stitched on to the tongues of his boots.