JAN - MAR 2019 • £3.

50
MONEY ON YOUR
MIND - MENTAL
HEALTH AND YOUR
FINANCES STIR IT UP
HEALTHY
IDEAS FOR
LIZ CARTER
FINDING THE NEW YEAR
CONTENTMENT

BEV MURRILL
LEADING WITH
FORGIVENESS
HAILEY
BALDWIN
THE NEXT GEN
© Andrea Rain / Shutterstock.com

ROLE MODEL

Entertainment • Fashion • Health • Interviews • Movies • Shopping • Faith • Music

 40
YEARS
1979-2019

#WhenYouPray

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Skegness for an unforgettable break.
Spring Harvest is a holiday, festival, conference
and encounter with God.
Be inspired and equipped with fantastic teaching and Spirit-led
worship. Enjoy Bible teaching, workshops, seminars, children’s
and youth programmes, fantastic facilities and more.

Bible
Teachers

Simon Ponsonby Pete Greig Anna Robbins

Harrogate Skegness and Minehead Two
Minehead One

E
AT
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AR
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SKEGNESS

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led by Sam Blake Skegness with Mozaiek Worship Minehead Two
Harrogate Minehead One

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Minehead One Minehead Two Harrogate Skegness

9-13 April 13-18 April 13-17 April 15-19 April
 CONTENTS
JA N - M A R 2 0 1 9 | W INT E R E DIT ION

CULTURE

6
SHOPPING
Drink Up!

12 INSPIRATION
FEATURES APPS
Stay Healthy, Stay
Appy! 5
26 FIRST WORD
Training Ground
SEWING HOPE IN 13
SYRIA LIVING GADGETS
The journey of ive
women who haven’t
Home is where the
Gadgets are
9
given up hope WOMEN
15 Calling all Crones and
Hags
31 GREENMUM
Dying of Consumption
52
MUSIC
NEXT-GEN ROLE
MODEL
to Our Ears 22
Hailey Baldwin making 16 LEADERSHIP
Leading with
the most of her time in
the limelight
HEALTH 54 Forgiveness
Stir it Up! WHAT’S ON
© iStock | UberImages | Rawpixel | Penelope Graßhof

at the Movies
38 18 49
PRESS RED
On Violence and
LIFE COACH 56 FAITH
A Clash of Wills
Abuse against Women Disagreeing Agreeably BOOK CLUB

43 70
FINDING 59 63 LAST WORD
CONTENTMENT MONEY FASHION Leaving the Culinary
Liz Carter on Life Money on Your Mind Bear With Comfort Zone

LIBERTI | 03
 EDITOR Bekah Legg
bekah@libertimagazine.com

DEPUTY EDITOR Chloe Satchell-Cobbett

chloe@libertimagazine.com

MARKETING & Steve Legg

ADVERTISING steve@libertimagazine.com

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ADVERTISING iona@hintonmediaservices.com

DESIGN Tina Grobler

tina@pegasusgraphics.co.uk

PRINT Halcyon
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DISTRIBUTION COMAG

CONSULTING EDITOR Steve Legg

FOR SCM steve@libertimagazine.com

© Liberti Magazine 2019

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CONTACT
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 T R AINING GROUND
FIRST WORD: BEKAH LEGG
The world is tough sometimes.
I have a friend who went on a discipleship
course a while ago, and she felt completely
trapped. She was such an independent
person, used to running her life her own way,
eating what she wanted, going out when she
wanted and answering to no one. Suddenly,
all that was gone.
Now she was in a world where she had to eat
what was put in front of her, share a room
with people she didn’t choose and adhere to
a strict schedule. She felt like she was utterly
out of control. She described it initially as
being in prison. She nearly left.
But as we chatted and prayed about whether
she stayed or left, I reminded her that all the
greats in the bible had their wilderness or
prison experience. I remembered Joseph –
the boy who had it all – including a rather
spectacular coat – but ended up a slave and
© iStock | lolostock
then in prison.
But Joseph remembered whose he
was whilst he served a foreign master,
LIBERTI | 05
remembered whose he was as he languished
in a prison cell. Joseph came out of those
years in exile stronger, wiser and more
confident in his God.
I don’t know where you are at the moment;
whether you’re in a wilderness of your own,
whether you feel trapped or lost or forgotten.
You’re not. God is with you.
God has a plan to give you hope and a future.
You will come out of this time stronger, wiser
and more confident if you choose to lean in
to God and let him shape you through your
experiences.
The pages of this magazine are full of
people who have done just that; read and be
inspired!
Bekah
Bekah Legg | EDITOR
BekahLegg
 Drink Up!
New Year, new you? We all start with the best of intentions and resolutions, but

staying hydrated is one of the easiest things you can do and it can have a massive

impact on your well-being. We’ve chosen some cute cups and bottles to help you

carry on glugging the good stuff all year long.

Kintsugi Mug, £15

Amara

Kintsugi is the Japanese art

of repairing broken pottery
with gold, making it more
valuable and more beautiful.
A great image of how God
restores us.

LIBERTI shoppIng | 06
 1 2

4
3

1. Matt Black Moscow Mule Mug £5, Wilkinsons - Take this tough mug anywhere without it getting broken.
2. Stackable Glasses £8, Oliver Bonas - These glasses are just beautiful; they’ll make you want to drink. And
they stack, so they won’t take up all the space in your cupboard. 3. Personalised Mug £9.99 - Pop Art Initials,
Gettingpersonal.co.uk - Don’t like sharing your mug? Get yours personalised so you know which is yours!
4. Dopper Hakuna Mintata water bottle £13, Daisy Park - ‘Hakuna Matata’, a wise warthog once said. With this
Hakuna Mintata Dopper, you can enjoy delicious tap water at its best. And it’s magic; with each sip you take,
you drink the oceans a bit cleaner. Because just one Dopper saves around 40 plastic disposable bottles a year.
Sometimes, reality is even more beautiful than a Disney movie. 5. Pols Potten Reed Tea Glasses £46, Amara -
These gorgeous glasses are perfect for your fruit teas or fancy coffees, they look lovely and won’t burn your fingers.

LIBERTI | 07
 square house
in your house.

Fair, ethical & family

run. Great, quality
cofee delivered
to your door.

@squarehouse.cofee
fb.com/squarehousecofeeco
@SquareHouseCC squarehouse.cofee

LIBERTI WoMEn | 08
 CALLING ALL
CRONES
& HAGS
© iStock | Maximkostenko

JUDE TRENIER

LIBERTI | 09

WE LEARN
THROUGHOUT OUR
LIVES, IN MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS,
THAT TO BE LOVED
AND ACCEPTED WE
MUST FIRST LEARN
TO MAKE OURSELVES
PHYSICALLY BEAUTIFUL
– FOR THAT IS WHERE
OUR REAL WORTH LIES.
LIBERTI WoMEn | 10
If you, as a woman, were asked to
describe yourself, what would you say?
Would you ever describe yourself as a
crone? Or a hag perhaps? OK, it’s not very
likely.
In the world in which we live, these words
are not considered complimentary –
and yet in ancient times they were titles
of respect given to women who were
revered in their communities for being
healers, midwives, sages and leaders.
Crones (the crowned one) and hags (the
holy one) were women who were earned
these titles of great respect. However,
as the patriarchal society took hold,
these revered titles became a source of
denigration and mockery of women as
they were reduced to defining a woman’s
appearance. This was how women were
now to be valued; not through their
wisdom, but through how they look.
As modern women, no matter how self-
aware, we often fall victim to this version
of “being female.” We learn throughout
our lives, in many different ways, that to
be loved and accepted we must first learn
to make ourselves physically beautiful –
for that is where our real worth lies. I am
an aunt to an incredible, smart and kind
niece. Many times I find myself having
to think twice before complimenting
her, to ensure that I am encouraging
and cheering her on in her pursuit of
knowledge, compassion for others and
being her truest self over and above the
fact that I think she looks beautiful. I try
to ensure that I champion her growing in
wisdom as much as I affirm her clothing
choices for that day.
© iStock | nito100
And it can be tough – the words we use
and the words we accept others using
to describe ourselves are powerful. They
can alter our interactions with those
around us. They can either strip us of our
true identity and power or enable us to
stand strong, knowing who we are and
what we’re worth. In the workplace we
often dread being described as “bossy”
or “feisty” – both words which are
never used to describe men who show
assertiveness or share opinions freely.
Other words used only to describe women
and never men include, “bitchy”, “frigid”,
“shrill” and “hysterical” – and not in the
“she’s so funny” way!
As women, we often do all we can not
to attract these kinds of labels. I cried
at work recently and it was all I could
do not to kick myself for being seen to
be “emotional”. But I am a human being
and I have emotions – I express them
on occasion. And yet the shame I felt,
even though the reason I shed a few
tears was absolutely validated by the
colleagues present, made me question my
professionalism, and whether or not I had
let the sisterhood down in some way by
supporting the stereotype of an emotional
woman.
That’s such utter crap and it’s time
we start to reclaim ourselves, and the
words used to describe us. It’s time we
reject the derogatory meaning of these
words and embrace ourselves as the rich
and complex mix of wisdom, emotion,
capability, tenderness and all the other
things that go into making us…us. Maybe
I was emotional – I care about what I do
Jude Trenier is a freelance writer and speaker who has spent over 14 years in full-time ministry leadership. She currently
works with the Methodist Church developing vocational development programmes for young adults. Gender equality is a
long-time passion in her writing and speaking.
LIBERTI | 11
and the people I do it with. Sometimes life
is hard – it’s sad and we have the right
to express this. I’m not advocating for a
daily sob fest in the workplace, but it’s
time we stopped beating ourselves up for
just feeling things as though it makes us
“weak women”.
It’s time we gave ourselves a break,
whilst simultaneously ceasing to listen
to and accept the labels that a largely
patriarchal society, the media and a
culture of misogyny slaps on us. It’s time
to reclaim the words that give us a true
and affirming sense of who we are, and
the transformational presence we can
be in the world around us. It’s good to be
“intimidating” sometimes, or adventurous,
powerful, compassionate or courageous.
And instead of striving to fit into or avoid
the labels others offer us – how about
we find our own sense of beauty, power
and identity in the names and labels we
give ourselves? And if you can’t think of
any, just do what I’m going to do…ask the
beloved crones and hags around you how
they would describe you and start there.
IT’S TIME WE
START TO RECLAIM
OURSELVES, AND
THE WORDS USED TO
DESCRIBE US.
 STAY HEALTHY,
STAY APPY
SUE RINALDI
Use of health and fitness apps has grown by over 330% in
the last three years. Let’s take a look at how we can create
healthier habits and boost our medical knowledge.
WATERMINDER
Own up, how many of us
forget to drink a healthy
amount of water each day?
WaterMinder intuitively tracks
water intake and reminds you to drink based
on body weight or personal goals. Visual
images and percentages encourage you
to take a hearty swig of H2O, tracking your
progress so you can create better habits.
Released for iOS and Android
PILLOW AUTOMATIC SLEEP
TRACKER
Goodbye sheep, hello smart
sleep assistant! Pillow can
analyse sleep cycles through
your Apple Watch, or by placing your iPhone
or iPad on the mattress. It also wakes you
up at the lightest possible sleep stage, and
records important audio events like snoring,
sleep apnoea and sleep talking. You can fall
asleep with Pillow’s sleep aid sounds, and
get your very own sleep analysis detailing
sleep quality and how to improve it.
Released free for iOS with in-app premium
purchase.
FIRST AID by BRITISH RED
CROSS
This app provides easy-to-
learn skills for a range of first
aid situations, as well as tips
LIBERTI Apps | 12
on how to prepare for emergencies. With
videos, interactive quizzes and step-by-step
guides, first aid has become app-friendly.
Information is hosted on the app so no
internet needed – perfect for any emergency.
Released free for iOS & Android
YOUR.MD
Googling symptoms late
at night is familiar (and
scary) territory for many
of us. Your.MD is a free
app that uses Artificial Intelligence to find
safe health information. You can chat to a
health chatbot to check symptoms or ask
questions – with all information checked by
certified doctors – or find and book a local
doctor or health specialist.
Released free for iOS and Android
TRIPWHISTLE GLOBAL SOS
There are 196 countries in
the world with more than 70
different emergency numbers,
and TripWhistle knows the
right number so you can get help faster. Dial
local emergency police, fire and ambulance
numbers anywhere in the world with a single
touch. The app provides critical information
to emergency respondents with in-app
access to your street address and GPS
coordinates.
Released free for iOS
 H O ME IS WH ERE THE
GADGETS ARE
Make home life even homier with nifty little gadgets to help around the
house and keep you entertained.
KEEKER
Keeker, the first
voice-enabled
robot, is round
and attractive
with a unique
design, making sure he can safely navigate
your home to bring entertainment, security
and communication to every room. With
a 360 degree camera, ceiling and wall
projection, wifi and bluetooth connectivity, a
powerful sound system, sensors and a front
camera, Keeker is your non-stop multi-media
friend. Keeker is also fully autonomous and
knows when to charge up his battery. I think
I’m in love.
£1690 uk.shop.keecker.com
GOOGLE HOME
HUB
Search and you
shall find – the
Google Home
Hub is vying for
attention as one of the best and most
affordable digital assistants currently
on the market. A cheery ‘good morning’
greeting will activate your calendar, the
weather, reminders and other personalised
information. You can also get visual answers
on recipes, sport and more, listen to music,
watch YouTube and control your smart
home devices. To avoid a potential privacy
backlash, Google have opted for a no-
camera design.
£139 store.google.com
EMBER CERAMIC MUG
Lukewarm coffee or
tea is now a grumble of
yesterday. This ceramic
mug connects to the Ember
app, allowing you control
LIBERTI gADgETs | 13
over the temperature of your beverage. A
fully charged mug will keep the desired
temperature for an hour, or all day if used
with the included charging coaster. The
Ember Mug intelligently enters sleep mode
when empty, and wakes up when it senses
movement or liquid.
£80 amazon.co.uk
PLAYSTATION
CLASSIC
The compact
recreation of
the PlayStation
console is evidence
that the future is not only before us, but
also behind us. The design of PlayStation
Classic perfectly mirrors the original console,
but 45% smaller than 1994’s PlayStation.
Complete with two wired controllers, a HDMI
cable, a virtual memory card, and preloaded
with 20 of the best games from the golden
era of the original console.
£89.99 amazon.co.uk
NETATMO
SMART SMOKE
ALARM
Netatmo’s
latest smart
device will
help you relax on your hols without worrying
about whether you left the iron on. Easy
to install, this smart device uses optical
sensors to detect the first sign of smoke
and will immediately ping alerts to app-
assigned smartphones. If you accidently set
it off when burning the toast, your phone
can silence it via Bluetooth, and your phone
calculates when its 10-year battery is low
and keeps you posted.
£89 / shop.netatmo.com
 DY ING O F CO NSUM PT IO N
EMMA GREENWOOD

The size of global wildlife populations has
declined by 60% over the last forty years.
This is just one of the shocking findings
reported in the latest Living Planet Report,
published by WWF in collaboration with the
Zoological Society of London. Additionally,
the report shows an 83% decline in
freshwater species numbers since 1970,
land degradation is shown to be seriously
impacting 75% of terrestrial ecosystems and
overfishing has extracted 6 billion tonnes
of fish and invertebrates from the oceans
since 1950. This isn’t just sentimental slush
over a few tigers and pandas - it’s a matter
of survival. Ultimately, all economic activity
depends on nature.
Marco Lambertini, the Director General
of WWF International, attributes these
alarming figures to the fact that we have
taken nature for granted for too long, and
we are ignoring the impact of unsustainable
production models and wasteful lifestyles.
“Consumption,” the report states, “is the
driving force behind the unprecedented
planetary change we are witnessing, through
the increased demand for energy, land and
water.”
We have become divorced from the reality
of where the products we consume come
from. We are unaware of the supply chains,
the materials they use and how these are
harvested, extracted and manufactured.
From deforestation to overfishing and
© iStock | Zenobillis
species overexploitation, we are exceeding
what is known as the world’s biocapacity
(the ability of ecosystems to renew
themselves).
“Human modifications are causing
irreversible changes to the life-sustaining
processes and resources that we depend
upon,” the report says. “We are the first
generation to have a clear picture of our
impact on nature and we may be the last
that can take action to reverse it.”
The start of a new year is a great time to
think over the way you’ve been living and
to make new commitments for the year to
come. Taking stock of your consumption
doesn’t mean you have to a superhero –
good intentions become habits when you
start small – but your New Year’s resolution
might just save the world.
Pick two and see them through:
• Take a bottle of tap water out with you
• Make charity shops your first stop
• Fix stuff!
• Reduce your meat intake
• Stop buying products that contain
microbeads
• Buy loose vegetables
• Swap to MSC certified fish
• Try washable cloth sanitary pads
• Reuse envelopes
• Buy FSC certified wrapping paper

Emma Greenwood is the Green Columnist and Fashion Editor at Liberti magazine. She joined Greenpeace protests aged
8 and has been wearing pre-loved vintage chic since she was 14. She eats the end of the cucumber, boycotts slave-
chocolate and has recently given up meat. When she’s not writing for Liberti, she writes iction for young adults and has
mentorships with two publishing houses. Emma is married to comedy guy Mark Greenwood and has two young crazy-
girl children. Twitter: @emmajgreenwood

LIBERTI gREEnMUM | 15
 Stir it up GAYNOR BURTON

There are so many beneits to a

stir-fry – they are quick, easy, cheap,
colourful, healthy and nutritious.
Here are some top tips to get you
stirring all year round.

Be prepared - Prepare your ingredients Choose your oil – Rapeseed, seasame,

beforehand so everything’s ready to
throw in the wok (you can also use a flat
bottomed saucepan, as long as it has
enough room to stir). Chop everything a
similar size – bitesize works really well.
Turn up the heat – You don’t have to pre
heat the pan if it is non-stick, otherwise
heat before you add the oil. A medium-
high heat gives you a bit more time
before things burn, and you can turn the
temperature up for meat and down for
veg.
almond or extra light olive oils can
withstand higher temperatures, whereas
normal olive oil has a lower burning point
than extra light olive oil – making it less
healthy. Dark sesame oil adds depth and
flavor, but whichever one you pick, make
sure you drain the excess oil once the
pan is coated. You can also season the oil
with garlic, lime, lemon, chilli, coriander or
basil, but turn the heat down for this bit to
avoid burning.
Go pro(tein) – Experiment with different
kinds of protein: chicken, turkey, tofu,

LIBERTI hEALTh | 16
 quorn strips, prawns, lean beef and beans
all work well. Shitake mushrooms add a
meaty texture and are a great vegetarian
alternative, and pre-cooked and frozen
shrimps and scallops are a handy stir fry
staple to have in the freezer. Cook the
meat or seafood first then set it aside
when it is about 80% cooked.

Veg out – Cook your harder, larger

vegetables first. Add some crunch with
soya beans, snow peas, carrots, broccoli,
bok choy or water chesnuts. Add colour
tians
with peppers, carrots and red cabbage.
Remember to keep stirring, and add the Motivating Chris
protein back in when the vegetables are
almost cooked.
to be fit for God
Get saucy – Shop-bought sauces are The Christian Fitness Company
often salty and sugary, so instead use
Fitfish is a unique and exciting initiative
lemon juice, lime juice, tomato puree,
inspiring, motivating and enabling
chopped tomatoes, crème fraiche,
off
10%
Christians to be physically,
avocado and herbs to add your own
spiritually and emotionally
flavours. You can also add a dash of
fit for God.
e
reduced salt soy sauce. Experiment with weekends quot
some of these great taste combos: lime Liberti_Sorted
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and coriander, chilli and lime, lemon and Weekend Retrea when booking.

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Inspiring Fitness Weekends - optional fun exercise sessions,
ginger and chilli, lemongrass and coconut,
nutrition workshop, life coaching, consultations, prayer,
coconut and lime.
worship, ministry, nature, beauty, space……

Use your noodle – Place your stir fry onto

a bed of brown rice, quinoa or wholewheat
noodles. For another portion of veg, you
can try courgette or carrot noodles made
with a spiralizer or peeler.
Finishing touches – Sprinkle with a
garnish such as chopped herbs, nuts or
seeds. Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Winter Retreat
A snowy mountain retreat right next to the slopes for those who
ski and those who don’t. Just an hour from Salzburg airport
LocalFit
Find Christians in your area who offer exercise classes,
nutrition, personal training, coaching, counselling, massage,
therapy and ministry..

The Fitfish team is made up of: REPs Advanced personal trainers

and Nutritional advisers. International coach federation life coaches.
© iStock | vicuschka

Chartered and clinical psychologists. CWR and NHS Counsellors.

Gaynor Burton is the founder of Fitish, the Christian
National and international ministry leaders.
Fitness Organisation that supports with the balance
between physical, spiritual and emotional. The
retreats, recipes and the popular ‘Your Plate of Plenty’ See www.fit-fish.co.uk
personalised eating plan are all things that Gaynor is
massively passionate about and loves seeing lives for more details and to book
changed!

LIBERTI | 17
 DISAGREEING
AGREEABLY
BY HEIKE PRENTICE

Where do you stand on Brexit? Well, to start off

with, I am probably the wrong person to ask
(sigh, I am German after all) and also my literal
side immediately starts considering how one can
stand on Brexit, unless it’s a new kind of cement
or flooring product I have not been aware of?

LIBERTI LIfE coAch | 18

 These days it is difficult to have pleasant
conversations without at some stage
ending up with Brexit, or Trump, or the
admission policies of a local school, the
future of the NHS or, in church circles,
the kind of denomination/label/tradition
you associate with. And almost inevitably
you come away with a feeling of being
damned, regardless of your opinion. Our
world is becoming increasingly polarised,
with especially vocal people found on
the extreme end of any topic, and the
moderate middle appears to have lost its
voice and identity. Maybe we really should
stick to the weather after all.
Or perhaps there is a way through the
minefield of not letting opinions and
convictions detonate in the face of
relationships and community. So the next
time you find yourself in a challenging
conversation, here some helpful tips:
Relax
Body language speaks louder than words,
especially if it contradicts what you are
saying. Therefore, it’s best to relax and, if
possible, carry on the conversation sitting
down and leaning back. Look up some
simple breathing exercises, which focus
on breathing out rather than breathing in.
Doing those will go unnoticed while you
allow yourself to calm down.
Engage
If you can, listen with an open mind. Keep
eye contact and let the other person
sense that, whatever they are saying,
© iStock | charles taylor
Heike Prentice trained as a direction and leadership coach before being ordained in the Church of England and is now
serving her curacy at St Peter’s Church, Hammersmith. Heike loves good food and wine, long walks with her dog Tiia,
pondering random thoughts and having a laugh. Contact: heike.prentice@me.com
LIBERTI | 19
and even if you disagree, it will not be a
problem to you. If appropriate, repeat back
to them what they have said to make sure
you have heard and understood them
correctly.
Be curious
Adopting this mindset has helped me
numerous times. Curiosity means you are
willing to explore a different perspective,
even if it is in complete opposition to your
own. Fascination communicates interest
and respect, without agreeing to another
point of view.
Offer your own point of view
Some people are quick and confident in
letting everyone know their standpoint,
but others prefer to withdraw and keep
quiet – especially if they believe that
they are unlikely be heard or unable to
articulate what they really think. Your
voice matters, regardless of how well you
are able to express yourself. There is no
need to shout and no excuse for keeping
silent. And finding that we can support
and befriend someone who disagrees
is deeply rewarding, and gives us hope
to find solutions together instead of
enlarging the distance between us.
Perhaps this is what the apostle Paul had
in mind when he said, “If it is possible, as
much as depends on you, live peaceably
with everyone.” (Rom 12:18) Let’s learn to
disagree agreeably, and perhaps take one
small step towards community and peace.
100,000 SPONSORED CHILDREN - KNOWN, LOVED AND PROTECTED

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ONE CHILD at a time. By sponsoring a child you are giving
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www.compassionuk.org
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Registered Charity in England and Wales [1077216] and Scotland [SC045059]
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L EA D ING W IT H
FORGIV E N E SS
BEV MURRILL

LIBERTI LEADERshIp | 22
 One of the major attributes a leader needs to develop is the
ability to forgive. Without that vital characteristic, a leader’s
heart (like everyone else’s) increasingly hardens, and their
attitude to the people around them will be abrasive, detached,
cynical or oppressive.

Church leaders come in for their fair share
of criticism and complaint so there are all
sorts of reasons why offence happens,
but for Christians, and especially Christian
leaders, it’s vital to our life mission that
we work out how to deal with offence in
the way Jesus did.
We serve the Great Forgiver. Our entire
belief system is built around our gratitude
to the One who laid down His life for His
friends, forgiving Every Single Offence. He
used His own blood to wash away all our
sin, allowing us to stand next to Him at
the throne of God, perfectly righteous and
totally acceptable.
And yet, ironically, the one attribute that
makes Him such a unique God – free
forgiveness – is the one His followers
find most difficult to emulate. In fact, we
find creative ways to get out of forgiving
without actually having to say, “I’m not
going to forgive” (which would be terribly
un-Christian, wouldn’t it).
Many people tell me they don’t need
to forgive because they ‘got over’ their
offence. They assure me how much
they care about the person (as though
forgiveness were not necessary towards
© iStock | kevinschreiber
have forgotten all about it (except when
it comes back up again), or any other
version of unforgiveness you may like to
choose.
One of my major life lessons, and one
which was hard won and which I’ve
kept with great determination as one of
my top survival techniques, is that only
forgiveness is forgiveness.
Getting over it isn’t forgiveness.
Self-control isn’t forgiveness.
Giving someone another chance isn’t
forgiveness.
Forgetting all about it isn’t forgiveness.
Pushing it way down into the depths of
your subconscious isn’t forgiveness.
Only forgiveness is forgiveness, and
forgiveness is a deliberate act, not
something that gradually happens as
time and tide wash the sting away, or
miraculously as God waves His magic
wand. Forgiveness is a choice, a repeated
choice (did Someone say: 70x7? That’s
490 times, peeps, for each transgression,
but who’s counting?)
Only forgiveness is

someone you love), or that they are still forgiveness.

treating that person well, or that they

LIBERTI | 23
What happens if you don’t forgive? If you
just find a way to get over it instead of
deliberately stopping to have a dialogue
with God over the way forwards, which
(for me anyway) has always (irritatingly)
included forgiveness?
The words ‘critical mass’ come to mind.
In nuclear physics, critical mass refers to
the condition in a nuclear reactor when
the right amount of pressure is achieved
through the build-up of toxic substances.
The result is a devastating explosion. Our
world exists in a state of emotional critical
mass all the time, and so do many of us –
even good Christians.
Forgiveness is a
deliberate act.
There’s a lot of misunderstanding about
forgiveness. My mother used to tell me,
“Forgive and forget.” When I sincerely
did want to forgive, I felt like I was failing
miserably because I didn’t forget. On a
practical note, it’s important to point out
that if we actually forgot everything we
forgave, we would be diagnosed with
amnesia…
Forgiving does not mean forgetting. How
would we learn who to trust, who we can
work with, how to make good choices, if
we forgot everything we forgave?
There is no place in the Bible which
connects forgiving with forgetting.
Genuine forgiveness means wiping the
slate clean. Sometimes that takes a while
and you have to keep going back to the
Lord to help you do it, and do it fully.
And we have to understand that there’s
more to forgiveness than just forgiving
LIBERTI LEADERshIp | 24
that action that wounded you. From that
event came other changes. Your heart
might have closed off to other people
as you became more afraid of being
hurt again. You may have become more
fearful of people in authority, if a person
in authority was the one who did wrong
to you. It’s important to think about what
you are forgiving. You need to forgive the
ramifications of what happened to you, as
well as the events that happened to you.
Suffice to say that we will not lead
effectively, or even live effectively, if
we do not grasp the basics of our lives
as followers of the Great Forgiver. He
doesn’t require us to be doormats or keep
subjecting ourselves to the betrayals and
brokennesses of other people if they are
chronically wounding us, but we can’t be
free unless we forgive. Even if/when you
walk away from the person who habitually
treats you badly, if you haven’t forgiven,
you carry that wounding into your next
relationship, your next church, your next
job and so whatever comes then comes
on top of what is already lying there from
the last lot.
Forgiveness is a choice, a
repeated choice.
Clear the decks. When old memories
come to mind, spend ten minutes or half
an hour talking to the Lord about what
happened and how it has affected you,
and when you have got it off your chest,
tell Him that you forgive them, or at least,
that you’re willing for Him to help you
forgive them. Do it one issue at a time.
It doesn’t mean that you have to stay in
a toxic relationship. It doesn’t mean you
can’t make the choices you may need
in order to stay emotionally healthy and
physically safe. You may have to leave a
relationship, or at least put it further back
in your life, but you will do it with a lot less
angst if you know you have completely
forgiven that person, yet you are still
making choices which are healthy and
safe for your life.
Forgiveness is what ensures healthy
relationships in your future. It’s what
allows you to move forwards into new and
stronger connections and affiliations from
a state of freedom and hope.
It’s worth spending time regularly
checking your heart to ensure that you
have forgiven - even the smallest insult,
the slightest wound. Make it a habit. It
will keep you healthy spirit, soul and body.
Trust me, it’s vital for your future (ask me
how I know).

Having been a senior church leader for over 35 years both in her native Australia and the UK, Bev speaks at churches
and conferences internationally. She has a Masters degree in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary USA
and she ministers as a leadership consultant and a mentor to leaders all over the world. Bev is the founder of Liberti
magazine and Kyria network of women leaders, as well as Cherish Uganda and Scarlet Women. She blogs at
www.bevmurrill.com and, thanks to the internet, is sought after internationally as a mentor for leaders online.

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Event City, Manchester | 13–14 Mar 2019
www.creonline.co.uk

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Aleppo: A street in Aleppo. “We are
beginning to rebuild everything.
Even though the damage is big”
© iStock | UberImages

LIBERTI fEATURE | 26
 SEW ING HO PE IN
SYRIA
RACHEL GARDNER
In a small ground-floor studio in Homs,
Syria, five women sew clothes. They’ve lost
everything due to the so-called Islamic State,
and now they are rebuilding their lives one
stitch at a time.
“Islamic State pushed us out of our homes,”
says Fatan, who had never sewn before
joining the studio. “We had to live in a tunnel
under the mountain with 265 other people.
We were forced to stay there. On some days
there was fighting around the mountain.”
With the outbreak of the Syrian war, Hala,
Fatan, Shiveen, Mahera and Ibtihaj had to
flee their homes to escape the violence,
leaving behind everything they had worked
so hard for. Some of them have lived through
unbearable trauma. But these highly-skilled
and capable women haven’t given up hope –
for themselves, their families or their country.
“With the help of God, Syria will be all right
again,” Fatan says.
Needles and thread are nothing new for Hala,
who had a sewing workshop for 25 years.
“It stopped operating because of the war,”
she remembers. “I ended up living here in
Homs. My house was damaged so I moved
in with my sister.” Through the local church
in Homs, Open Doors helped Hala set up
the sewing studio, which she now manages.
LIBERTI | 27
She’s passing on her years of experience
in sewing, reading patterns and tailoring to
Fatan, Shiveen, Mahera and Ibtihaj.
The studio isn’t just giving these women new
skills – it’s providing them with the dignity
of work and the ability to provide for their
families. Together, the five women make
clothes and quilts to sell to their community.
“Here in Homs I found the opportunity to
work again and to train other women in this
work,” Hala explains. As the business grows,
she hopes to train up more women to join
the studio.
Ongoing Crisis
Islamic State may be largely defeated in
Syria, but the crisis is not over yet. Many aid
agencies are reducing their support; some
are pulling out completely. Breadwinners
have left Syria’s devastated towns and
villages, driven away by the ongoing violence,
lack of work and rising food prices. It’s the
most vulnerable people who are left behind:
those displaced from their homes, the
elderly whose children have left Syria, the
chronically ill who need medical care, and
those with young children.
Projects like the sewing studio are vital
in helping to create jobs that pay enough
to support a family. The cost of basic
necessities, such as food and fuel, are ten
times higher than they were at the start
of the war, meaning that even those who
have been able to find work often don’t earn
enough to cover the needs of their families.
And with the arrival of winter, heating bills are
putting an extra strain on already struggling
families.
“Because of the stress of the war, my son
suddenly developed diabetes,” said Shiveen.
“It was from a time that he came home and
we were not there. He was convinced we had
all been killed. After we fled to Homs, I found
some temporary work in a grocery shop.
That was not good because I earned too
little money. It wasn’t enough to buy what
my family needed. I had to pay rent, and the
food aid had stopped.” Thanks to the sewing
studio, Shiveen has not only learnt a new
skill, but she is able to buy medicine for her
son and put food on the table. “I am excited
about this job,” she said. “We’re making
something and getting an income. It is so
good that we are producing here, that we can
sell the products.”
Samoouh and her daughter, Nima leave the relief centre with a food parcel and clothing. “Without this support we
could not live. The church has helped us a lot. They gave us furniture, beds and blankets. God has saved us these
seven years of war. God gave us help through the church.”
LIBERTI fEATURE | 28
The seven-year war in Syria has drastically
altered life for millions of people: six million
Syrians have fled the country, and a further
six million are internally displaced. This mass
exodus has changed the gender dynamics
for those who have stayed. As so many men
have fled, the younger generation no longer
see marriage as a likelihood. “Women of
marrying age in Syria are the majority,” said
one woman in her twenties. “This is very
demotivating for girls and young women.
I’m afraid I won’t ever marry.” Another young
woman added, “It’s almost impossible
– there are almost no boys. We can say
goodbye to marriage and family.”
Changing roles
“Roles are changing within the family,” said
one Syrian man. “In Syria, married women
with children don’t usually work. Many
used to own their own homes, but now, as
displaced people, they have to pay rent from
the little money they have left. Women now
bear a double burden. Their position changed
and they now have multiple roles within the
family and society. Besides supervising the

Left to right - Shiveen, Mahera, Ibtihaj, Hala and Fatan
family and raising children, they now carry
the economic burden to provide an income.”
Open Doors is working through local church
partners to provide loans for income-
generating businesses, ensuring women
are able to provide for their families; the
sewing studio is just one of many of these
projects giving women dignity in the midst
of war. “The factory is a wonderful step for
our future,” Fatan said. “You didn’t just give
us a salary for one month, you’ve invested in
something for our entire life.”
In Safita, in north-western Syria, Pastor
Musa and his team are giving out microloans
to women who have great ideas for
businesses. “At first we were afraid that the
women would not earn enough to pay back
the loan,” he admits. “But they actually made
enough to make a living for themselves and
pay back the loan. That encouraged us to
continue with this kind of project. We will
support 20 more women over the next two
years. After they pay the money back it can
be used again for loans for other women.”
Elias, a pastor from Aleppo, adds,
“Microloans are an important next step.
The people need to work again. We must do
something to help the people work again to
earn their own living. That is a way of giving
the people hope.”
LIBERTI | 29
Only the brave
Though millions decided to leave Syria, the
brave decided to stay. Risking everything,
they serve the vulnerable, needy and
displaced. They believe in rebuilding their
country and serving their communities.
Many of these people are church leaders like
Pastor Abdullah, who has a congregation
in Aleppo. “We are beginning to rebuild
everything,” he says. “Even though the
damage is big and huge it is obvious to
everyone that there is life, and reconciliation
is coming back after the extremists were
defeated.
“There were times when there was no one
in the streets. Now people have come back
to Aleppo, you can see them walking in
the street with joy in spite of the difficult
situation and difficult economy. The
challenges are that there are not enough
jobs, and the needs of families are not
being met in terms of schools and rent for
apartments, but the church is playing its part
in helping these families.”
Open Doors’ secret networks are bringing
hope to Christians persecuted for their faith
in over 60 countries. Through people like
Pastor Abdullah, and Hala with her sewing
studio, Open Doors is supporting the church
in Syria with vital aid. The light of the church
in Syria must not be extinguished – find out
how you can keep hope alive at
opendoorsuk.org/syria.
NEXT-GEN
ROLE MODEL
With her show-biz
heritage and high-
profile love life,
Hailey Baldwin has
had to cope with
a level of fame far
surpassing her years.
But the supermodel-
in-waiting is
determined to make
sure her time in the
limelight is a
positive one.

PETER WALLACE
© Andrea Rain / Shutterstock.com

LIBERTI fEATURE | 30
 Hailey Baldwin at
Cannes France

LIBERTI | 31
HAILEY
BALDWIN
Regardless of the historical concept of
celebrity in human history, there’s a general
consensus that today’s stars face greater
scrutiny than ever before. The lenses of the
world’s paparazzi have in some regards
subsided into the background, replaced in
force by social media platforms upon which
every individual, no matter how famous, can
have their every word and action scrutinised
the internet over.

Hailey Baldwin is a fitting amalgamation of

where these ideals of old fame and new fame
come together. In many ways, Baldwin was
always going to be in the spotlight, befitting
of the family name that has produced four
famous brothers, from her father Stephen, to
current Saturday Night Live stalwart, Alec.

Yet while her surname inextricably connects

her to a show-biz lineage generations in
the making, the 21-year-old model and TV
host is also at the forefront of a new breed
of famous fashionistas – young women like
the Hadid sisters, or Cara Delevingne. These
stars may have made their professional mark
on the catwalk, but there is a simultaneous
importance in the manner in which they have
built a personal brand around themselves,
and invited their fans into their lives, via
Instagram, Twitter, and the ilk.

“Of course, I grew up in a certain

environment, and I know how that has
definitely influenced me, but I’ve never been
too focused on the entertainment world,”
Baldwin explains. “It was just a world that I
knew very well because of my parents and
so it was never something I ever sought out.
It’s happened pretty naturally and I’m happy
to be enjoying this time in my life.”

LIBERTI fEATURE | 32

You’re being told on a much
larger scale that you’re not
pretty, you’re not this, you’re
not that.
Though Baldwin has been on the modelling
scene for nearly half a decade now, she
has only really begun to attract the eyes
(and lenses) of the world’s press in real
earnest. Being Stephen Baldwin’s daughter
is one thing, but being Mrs. Justin Bieber is
something very different in the modern age.
And while questions still remain over whether
childhood friends Baldwin and Bieber have
got married, or are just still engaged, the
relationship has made Baldwin a target, not
just for the pens of tabloid journalists eager
to know the intimacies of this contemporary
power-couple, but also the millions of fans
of both her and her foppish fiancée around
the globe.
Even with her upbringing, the pressures of
the internet age weigh heavily on Baldwin,
the first of her family to be growing up in the
glare of the social media spotlight.
“This generation has a lot of eyes on them,”
she nods. “It adds a lot of layers of insecurity.
You’re being told on a much larger scale
that you’re not pretty, you’re not this, you’re
not that. Basically, it adds a lot of layers of
bullying. Even if you aren’t conscious of it,
it does make your mind spin a little bit. You
think about what they’re saying, and you
wonder if they’re right. If they think this and
are noticing this, then obviously there must
LIBERTI | 33
be something that’s making them think
that...”
“There can be 10 positive comments and
[only] two negative ones, but you’re going to
focus on the ones that are picking at a bone
that is sensitive for you. Everybody my age
struggles with insecurities, so take that and
multiply it by seven million people. There are
people much older than me saying horrible
things...it’s not the best feeling in the world.
But it comes with the job, so you just have to
accept it and move on.”
Heart-breaking as it is to hear a 21-year-
old woman talk so candidly about her
experiences at the hands of so-called
‘internet trolls’, Baldwin is not one to let the
detractors claim victory over her, however
small. The help of her experienced relatives,
for one, has been a boon to the star in
dealing with the often-capricious world of
celebrity, but it only serves to emphasise
Baldwin’s juxtaposition to many of the young
men and women before her who have found
fame too overwhelming an idea.
“I try to present a very real image of myself,”
she agrees. “I am a very normal girl, I’m not
obsessed with my looks, I don’t do drama. I
always try to keep a low profile when I work.
“The best advice I have ever received comes
from my father. He told me to always be
myself, because that is why people are close
to you, why they love you and why they want
to work with you. People tend to be drawn to
those whom they perceive as genuine and
that’s why you need to be true to who you
are and your personality.”
Baldwin’s desire for her fans – all 15.1
million of them, if her Instagram page alone
is to be the judge – to see her “real image”
may appear to some counterproductive to
her profession. But peer past the glammed-
up shots of her modelling, and it’s easy
to spot the ideals that mark Baldwin out
from the crowd. Following in her father’s
footsteps, Baldwin’s faith, and desire to
champion her beliefs, often go hand-in-hand
with her mission to be a positive influence on
her many young followers.
The celebrity world has of late appeared
to become more and more tolerant of
people’s beliefs. Stars such as Chris
Pratt, and Baldwin’s fiancée Bieber, have
regularly espoused the virtues of religion
and its prominent role in their current lives
and, in the latter’s case, the move away
from less than perfect behaviour. For
Baldwin, the desire to be with like-minded
individuals has always been a driving force
and has contributed to her staying humble
throughout her early career and now,
when her much-rumoured nuptials have
heightened her celebrity status even more.
People tend to be drawn to
those whom they
perceive as genuine and
that’s why you need to be
true to who you are.
“It’s is a big part of my life,” she has said of
her Christian faith. “My family and people
LIBERTI fEATURE | 34
that I have around me personally are the
reasons why I think I’m able to stay very true
to myself and very grounded.
“A lot of my closest friends, people that I
trust the most, and people that have been
there for me the most are all people that
are in my church. I was raised in church. I
was brought up in that life, and I think that
it’s very important for everybody to be in
touch with their spirituality and to have a
relationship with God.”
Baldwin’s focus on an individual’s personal
“relationship” with God, as opposed to their
following strict dogma or organised religion,
gives her regular avocation and sharing of
Bible passages a more conversational and
spiritual slant, where some may presume to
see preaching.
All this makes her something of a parent’s
dream when it comes to understanding
which celebrities their children put their
trust in. Models have in the past proved to
be a negative force on young women – Kate
Moss’ recent admission of regret over her
poorly phrased ‘Nothing tastes as good
as skinny feels’ quotes that dogged her
subsequent career, and the struggle for more
diversity in the industry being two prominent
examples. But Baldwin says that modelling
has moved on, and in much the same way
that fashion houses and clothing brands
now want a fully formed personality behind
the looks. From Gigi Hadid’s battle against
Hashimoto disease, to Baldwin’s desire to
make the internet (and the world) a little
brighter in its treatment of others, these
model’s platforms extend far beyond the
© Andrea Rain / Shutterstock.com
rostra and runways of the fashion world.
“There are so many girls that are standing up There are so many girls that
for such cool stuff in the industry right now,
and sharing what they’re passionate about,” are standing up for such cool
she told Vogue earlier this year. “I think
having a voice is what it’s about right now.” stuff in the industry right now.
And even if fashion was more of a fall-back
than a first choice – Baldwin was an aspiring
ballet dancer before an injury curtailed
that particular career – she has found the
contemporary industry a welcoming home.
Beautiful she may be, but models throughout
the years can make that claim: Baldwin
is striving for more, to the delight of fans,
fashion directors, and brands everywhere.

“I wouldn’t have thought that I’d be doing

what I’m doing now,” Baldwin admits. “I
can’t plan things ever. Things change so
quickly...I’m still kind of shy about being a
model. I’m timid and goofy. Once you get to
know me, you’ll see I’m clumsy, but I think
it’s funny. Some girls really know that they’re
pretty, and they act like it. Which is fine. But
I think letting people in on who you really are
is how you become a role model.”

Sadly, there will no doubt be further attempts

to paint Baldwin as little more than Mrs
Bieber in her married future, such is, and
has been, the force of her fiancée’s media
pull. This kind of focus on the Baldwin’s
relationship does a disservice to her
independence. And while Baldwin herself
would be the first to say she’s no different
from any of her peers, there’s a certain
steeliness to her determination to be positive
in the face of so much negativity – on social
media, in the current social discourse – that
provides a perfect foil to her refusal to lay her
beliefs aside.

Hailey Baldwin at the Amfar

Gala Cannes

LIBERTI | 35
 surround myself with people who believe the
same thing I do — who follow it and are open
to it — because it’s too hard to constantly get
people to understand what I do if they just
aren’t interested in it.”

Anyone taking just a cursory glance at

current society can see the divisions. It
is no more, or less troubling, to see the
internet used as a tool to anonymously
attack young women like Baldwin for their
lifestyle, beliefs, and, above all, looks. For
some – and this count includes Baldwin’s
fiancée several times over – the answer is to
shut themselves away from it all. Prominent
actors, musicians and models have all
chosen at some time or another to step
back from social media and draw the curtain
around their private life, as is their right.

Time will tell whether Baldwin will at some

Stephen Baldwin and his daughters Alia (left) and Hailey time follow their example. The recent
(Right) in Los Angeles announcement that she will be the face of
clothing label Pretty Little Thing certainly
confirms her professional career is moving
Not everybody is going to
from strength to strength. And, perhaps as
an acknowledgement for the lucky life she’s
believe in the God that I
led so far, off-the-catwalk, Baldwin is as
determined as ever to do God’s work.
believe in, but it’s something
“Not everybody is going to believe in the God
that I’m not afraid to share
that I believe in, but it’s something that I’m
not afraid to share with people because I
with people.
know how it inspires me — how it positively
affects my life. So, if you don’t like it, no
“I don’t think anybody should be afraid to one is saying that you have to follow what I
represent or talk about it, even though I follow, but I should be free to talk about what
feel there’s something about Christianity I want to. I think that God kind of put me in
© Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

that makes people very touchy,” she says. the place in my life to not be quiet about it,
“Definitely, at times — even now — it’s hard not be quiet about Him, but to reach people
for me. Which is why, now in my 20s, I try to and to inspire people.”

LIBERTI fEATUREs | 36
 with with
STEV STEVE
E L ELEGG
G G aand
n d JJANE’
A N E ’ALAM
A L ASHEIKH
M SHEIKH

Book your church onto the Curry and Comedy Tour today.
Email samueld@compassionuk.org

Compassion UK Christian Child Development, registered charity in England and Wales (1077216) and Scotland (SC045059).
A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 3719092.
 PRESS RED
on Violence and Abuse
against Women

KATY ADAMS

LIBERTI fEATURE | 38
Never before in history have
British women had it so good.
They can vote, work outside
the home, have control over
their reproductive lives, and
travel around freely. They
outnumber men in some
professional jobs, often do
better than them at university,
and are beginning to have the
achievements of their sports
teams recognised in the
national press. Yet despite
this, every British woman
has a one-in-four chance of
being the victim of violence
and abuse at some point in
her life, a figure which rises to
one-in-three when looked at
on a worldwide level.
This harm comes in many forms, from
domestic violence and prostitution to FGM,
sexual assault, and modern-day slavery. Its
causes are many and often multi-layered,
with perpetrators being influenced by culture,
tradition, religion, and their own history and
past experiences. Its impact is worsened
since the harm often takes place behind
closed doors, hidden from sight. Yet despite
LIBERTI | 39
the #MeToo movement, the current wave of
prominent calls for female empowerment,
and the steady trickle of prosecutions in
the UK for crimes such as forced underage
marriage and so-called honour killings, there
is still much to be done to protect women
and girls and strengthen relationships
between the sexes. This is a challenge for
both men and women: the commitment of
both genders is needed to alter attitudes and
actions.
Michele Hawthorne is the founder of Press
Red, the Manchester-based organisation
which works to help end the silence around
these issues and make people aware of
what’s going on and what can be done to
change things. As she says, “God designed
men and women to live in harmony. Once
that harmony was broken, it led inevitably
to abuse, and from abuse comes lives of
suffering, pain and despair”.
Emma’s story is characteristic of those
affected by such abuse: wanting to fill a void
created by previous harmful experiences, she
was violently harmed in multiple successive
relationships, dealing also with the constant
threat of her young son becoming the target
of the abuse. Believing she was in love with
her attackers, she remained loyal to them,
despite the physical violence, and the drugs
and alcohol she turned to in order to be
able to cope, eventually only snapping when
direct threats were made on her life.
It is important to stress that the harm does
not always flow one way: men are often
victims of violence from both male and
female partners, and need support and
protection as a result. Similarly, Michele is
keen to explain how tackling these abuses
is the responsibility of both men and women
since without men joining the conversation,
any proposed solution will always be one-
sided. She explains that since the majority of
perpetrators of such violence against women
are male, the support, encouragement, and
help of all men is vital in bringing it to an end:
Men are uniquely positioned to influence and
challenge the attitudes and behaviours of
other men, to demonstrate a more positive
way of living, and to offer support and help to
the women affected.
The responsibility of the church in ending
these miseries is also something Press Red
is seeking to highlight. According to the
latest research published by Dr Kristin Aune
of Coventry University, up to a quarter of
church-goers have experienced abuse during
their lifetime. Michele explains that there are
a number of reasons why churches remain
ineffective against, and even complicit in,
such suffering, including the incorrect use
of Bible passages to admonish women to
be submissive to abusive husbands, a lack
of desire to make such issues public, and a
reluctance to discuss what’s really going on
in the lives of those close to us. Despite this,
however, she remains convinced that the
church has a critical role to play in standing
up to these harms, and it is this responsibility
which is the focus of Press Red’s GRID
project.
LIBERTI fEATURE | 40
Based on the concept of an electricity
network, this initiative aims to develop a
web of churches around the UK, all of which
are committed to becoming places of hope,
safety, and help for anyone affected by these
issues. After providing initial awareness-
raising and guidance in why, where and how
to access more specialist support from local
and national support organisations, Press
Red encourages and challenges partner
churches to achieve their full potential
through working alongside them over the
long-term.
Without men joining the
conversation, any proposed
solution will always be
one-sided.
GRID also seeks to put the issue on the
agenda of key influential institutions as
diverse as the NHS, theological colleges
and prisons, with the goal of helping shape
organisations which are informed, proactive
and inspired to stand together against
gender-based abuse and all the physical,
psychological and social consequences it
can bring. According to Laura Brett, Press
Red’s Head of Development, “By developing
strong relationships with existing key public
services, private institutions and educational
establishments, Press Red plans to deliver a
top down, bottom up approach by lobbying
governmental officials, co-educating
health and theological students and raising
awareness in industry and commerce”.
Violence against women…
causes untold misery, cutting
short lives and leaving
countless women living in
pain and fear in every country
in the world
Statistics such as how younger women are
more at risk of harm from violence than from
cancer, malaria and road traffic accidents
combined reveal the scale of the problem,
and for those of us outside of church
leadership and other positions of influence,
our ability to make any sort of difference
often appears limited. It is here the other
opportunities Press Red offers individuals
and small groups to get involved in become
important, as well as its critical signposting
work: through linking people with leading
organisations and speakers in this field,
Press Red seeks to enable everyone to make
a real, practical difference.
Ultimately, whatever the gender, race or
religion of victim or perpetrator, Michele
believes that the church and Christians
LIBERTI | 41
are called to be an example to the rest of
society in their behaviour and attitude. This
means that those who fall into this group
need to strive to demonstrate what proper
relationships look like, beginning with those
in our own lives and church communities. In
addition, all of us, whatever our level of faith,
have the responsibility of speaking out on
behalf of those who don’t have a voice: those
who are trapped in cycles of harm and fear,
and who deal daily with the impact of these
issues. The Church and other influential
bodies can do this collectively, using their
size to lobby for worldwide change, and
individuals can assist through providing
funding and support for organisations
seeking to create change.
The UN Report of October 2006 (‘Ending
Violence Against Women: From Words
to Action’) stated that “violence against
women… causes untold misery, cutting short
lives and leaving countless women living in
pain and fear in every country in the world”.
Twelve years later the situation remains. Let
us work together, male and female, to make a
difference: to turn off the silence around this
harm, to empower and encourage each other
to get involved, and to offer new hope and a
better future for everyone involved.
To get involved or find out more,
visit pressred.org
MAF uses planes to transform the lives of the world’s most
isolated people, bringing help and hope to those in need.

M AF
E
FRE NDAR
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CAL

A WINDOW
ON OUR WORK
Combining a stunning array
of images with moving
Scriptures, this 2019 calendar
will transport you through
MAF’s life-saving work across
the developing world.

To get your FREE calendar*, visit

www.maf-uk.org/calendar2019
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 FINDING
CONTENTMENT
IN AN
IMPERFECT LIFE
BY LIZ CARTER

I screwed my eyes shut against the piercing
light. My head pounded, pain shrieking
within, an iron band clamping itself around
my chest. I couldn’t breathe.
‘Your oxygen sats are too low,’ someone
said, but the words barely sunk in to my
churned-up consciousness.
Later, spaced out on IV morphine and
admitted to hospital, the consultant told me
© iStock | nadtytok
So I screamed out to God. I sat with my
husband and we prayed, “Please, God. Please
take this pain away.”
But the pain remained. And the long-term
effects were a problem, too. I’d suffered with
a chronic lung disease all of my life, and
this episode made things far worse. They’d
been considering surgery, taking out part
of my right lung to keep the disease from
spreading, but after a CT scan it became

I had double pneumonia, pleurisy and pleural apparent it was too late. It had spread into
effusions. My lungs needed draining and the every lobe.
pain was more hideous than ever.

LIBERTI | 43
 We’re told that the only way we can feel
content is when life is good to us.

I wondered where God was, and what God
was doing.
Yet something else happened to me in
the midst of that agony. Something like
indescribable peace. Something like
contentment - but not contentment as I
might have thought of it before…
The call of culture
We live in a culture that pushes the pursuit
of happiness on us. We see it in every ad,
on every social media feed. How does it
feel when you are scrolling down those
Instagram feeds, seeing image after image
of perfect lives and perfect people? Does it
feel like a burden on you - something you’ll
never quite achieve? Or perhaps you feel your
reality is so far from these filtered pictures
that you can’t even begin to relate. Culture
around us sells us the story that happiness
is what we must reach for, and we must fulfil
that need inside us in any way we can. We
must get that thing or that experience or that
relationship, and then we’ll be content at last.
But then, when we get that thing, we find that
there is still an ache in us; that contentment
is still just out of reach.
We’re told that the only way we can feel
content is when life is good to us. When we
have the career we want or the house we
love, when we are in a loving relationship or
have healthy children, only then will we feel
content. There’s always something more
around the corner to make us happier.
And if we’re falling apart – well, we can just
forget any kind of contentment.
Church, too, can sometimes push a version
of this at us; a version called “wholeness”.
We hear it a lot – Jesus came to bring
life in its fullness, after all. When we’re
whole we’ll be content and better able to
serve God. We can’t be content until we’ve
reached wholeness, because Jesus said
that, right? Until our sickness is healed or our
depression lifted, we have to pursue these
things because that is what God wants for
us…

LIBERTI fEATURE | 44
 These two versions of contentment feed into
something common to all of us: the need
for something to fill the gaping void. We are
always searching for the Thing, and society
and church can both tell us stories about
how to get it.
Hitting rock bottom
As a Christian growing up with chronic pain
and sickness, I bought into that “wholeness
works best” mindset. I thought I couldn’t
get contentment because I wasn’t healed,
and until I was “fixed” I would remain
disappointed and bitter. It felt to me that I
was letting God down in my sadness, that
I should make more effort to be shiny and
happy.
I remember a time I hit rock bottom. I had a
baby and a toddler, my husband was working
long hours and I’d been in and out of the
hospital throughout the pregnancy with
pneumonia. I had the baby laid out on his
playmat in the centre of the room while the
toddler was running around. The baby began
to cry, and I started to drag myself off the
sofa to pick him up, but when I tried to move
the pain crippled me. My body was torn
apart, and I couldn’t breathe in or out without
searing agony. I laid there crying, sobbing my
heart out with the baby crying next to me. I
rolled off the sofa and crawled on my hands
and knees over to my son, then lay on the
floor to feed him. At that point I realised that I
just couldn’t do this on my own. It hit me that
this thing was just getting worse, not better,
and I begged God to heal me.
© iStock | nadtytok
We live in a culture that pushes the pursuit of
happiness on us.
LIBERTI | 45
All around me, people were assuring me
that God would heal me. I should just keep
pressing on, claiming this scripture and that.
I should confess all my sin and work on my
faith levels. I felt like it was my fault God
wasn’t healing me – that somehow I had to
do something to make him come through for
me. I couldn’t grasp that God longed to reach
out to me in the pain, and that I could find
contentment within it rather than waiting for
God to stop it.
I’d narrowed God to a box of human making,
a box which said that God could only fill
me with good things when I was better.
I’d not realised that the greatest treasures
were to be found outside the box and in
the mysteries of who God is, digging into
the very depths of my pain-soaked being,
flooding through the hurting places and
soothing the scars in me.
Gradually, over years as my disease
worsened, I discovered that God wasn’t
blaming me for not being healed. Far from
it. Instead, I learned that God was in the
centre of the pain with me, rather than
having departed and left me alone in it. I
still cried out to him for relief, still screamed
my disappointment, but I’d found a depth of
contentment in the pain. And somehow, the
worse it was, the more of God I discovered.
Contentment according to Paul
In his letter to the Philippian church, the
apostle Paul claimed that he had found the
secret to contentment in all circumstances:
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know
what it is to have plenty. I have learned the
secret of being content in any and every
situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether
living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12)
Paul wasn’t saying he’d found wholeness
in terms of things working out in his life; he
was pointing to something else, something
more profound. Paul was living under the
darkest of circumstances; in prison, under
house arrest, with the threat of persecution
hanging over him. He’d been through much
suffering. So what if the contentment he
talked of wasn’t tied to this idea of pursuing
happiness or wholeness? What if it was more
of a profound mystery which found root in
looking to God? We all experience incredibly
difficult or painful situations. But what if
rejoicing in God actually surrounds us with
unexpected freedom and joy – even in the
midst of the murk?
HOW TO BE CONTENTED IN A PRISON CELL
1. An active process
Paul said he’d learned the secret to
contentment – so he’d put time and energy
into chasing contentment and holding out his
hands to catch it. He didn’t expect to receive
happiness from his circumstances, but
despite them and within them. Contentment
is therefore an active process, rather than
something which simply happens to us. It’s a
journey and a daily decision we make.
2. Contentment is putting ourselves second
Taking hold of contentment means an
attitude of humility. Instead of looking inside
ourselves and finding ‘inner peace’ in our
own power and strength, we look outside
LIBERTI fEATURE | 46
ourselves. Jesus put himself aside to put
others first, and never demanded glory for
himself. In laying ourselves aside, we run
headlong into the peace that we can only find
in turning to God.
3. Contentment allows for authenticity
This kind of contentment doesn’t wear a
false mask. When we take time to be honest
in our struggles, we find that God joins
with us in our pain. It’s never a bad thing
to give doubt room to breathe, or to admit
to disappointment and sorrow. Even Jesus
poured out his pain as he asked God if there
was any way this cup could be taken from
him – any way he wouldn’t have to go to
the cross. He didn’t suppress his agony. All
through the Bible, we find so many examples
of people laying out their deepest pain
before God, and somehow, in that action of
being authentic, they are able to take hold of
something even deeper than their pain.
4. Contentment is a gratitude attitude
Finding things to be grateful about can be a
powerful way of exercising contentment in
our lives. Even if these are only tiny things
which happen in our days, or thankfulness
for good things happening to those we
love. This is sometimes called counting our
blessings. Sometimes it can be difficult to do
this, especially when we feel that we don’t
really have blessings to count, but turning
our attitude outwards rather than inwards
can be an antidote to bitterness about our
situation.
5. Worship flings contentment at us
As a Christian, I’ve discovered that worship
soothes my soul like nothing else. Worship
can look like a strange thing, as if God
demands us to stroke his ego, but instead I
think that God created us to worship, and in
worship we find treasure which fills us and
alleviates our pain. In thanking God for all He
has done, and praising Him for who He is,
we are launched into the freedom of perfect
peace.
6. Jesus knows
Remembering Jesus on the cross is the
most profound and powerful way of finding
his gentle touch in our darkness, whether
physical or other. Jesus took everything –
all our wrongs, all our pain – and he was
weighed down with it. He knew what it was
to struggle for every breath and to know his
body utterly broken. Here is a God who gets
it, who wasn’t just here in flesh but present in
LIBERTI | 47
the worst of suffering. And that’s where our
contentment can grow from; the hope that
Jesus brings as well as the knowledge that
Jesus understands.
What do you think about the word
‘contentment’? What does it mean to you?
What if instead of contentment happening
to you, you could reach out for it – and you
could catch it? And what if it made you more
fully whole than you can imagine – even if
you’re not mended, or healed?
Liz Carter is an author and blogger who likes to write
about life in all its messy, painful, joyous reality. She likes
Cadbury’s and turquoise, in equal measure, and lives
in the UK with her husband and two crazy teens. Liz is
the author of Catching Contentment: How to be Holy
Satisied. You can ind Liz on her website at
www.greatadventure.carterclan.me.uk
 First Line Management
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 A CLASH
OF WILLS
JEN BAKER

A few months ago, the Lord decided to hijack my message

while I was preaching.

The hijack lasted about 40 minutes and was much

better than the original, so I was happy to hand Him
the microphone and let Him rewrite the talk. It was His
© iStock | jgroup

meeting, after all. What I saw in my spirit at the time of

hijacking was two words written bold and large: I WILL.
Here is a bit of what followed after that…

LIBERTI | 49
I WILL
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid
or terrified because of them, for the Lord
your God goes with you; he will never leave
you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:16)
God says He will go with Joshua.
“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise
shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm
34:1)
David says he will bless the Lord.
The merging of God’s will and our will is like
a marriage of power and intention. When
infused with faith, even the toughest of
enemies are powerless.
I WILL NOT
“For He Himself has said, I will not in any way
fail you nor give you up nor leave you without
support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in
any degree leave you helpless nor forsake
nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)!
[Assuredly not!]” (Hebrews 13:5 – AMPC)
God says He will not leave or let us go.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from
your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day
and night, so that you may be careful to do
according to all that is written in it. For then
you will make your way prosperous, and then
you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
Joshua decides he will not depart from or
put away the truth.
When God’s refusal and our refusal come
together, it is like a marriage of strength and
LIBERTI fAITh | 50
wisdom; when infused with faith, even our
greatest temptations can be overcome.
There is a time to will and a time not to will,
and both are necessary to living a life of
victory.
DAVID
Most Christians know the story of David who
was a shepherd boy anointed to be king.
Immediately after the promotion he was sent
back to the sheep – not the welcome one
would expect for a newly appointed king.
But in humility he continued tending the
sheep and sharpening his character, knowing
that, in God’s timing, promotion would
one day present itself. The world looks at
promotion through prestige and equates
influence with increase, but God’s kingdom is
seen differently.
After a while David was asked by his father
to deliver bread and cheese to the front
lines of battle. Quickly and obediently David
complied, stuffing his slingshot in the bag
next to the flour and fromage. Soon the king
arrives…as a cheese boy…and it is then that
he beats Goliath.
Never despise your positioning; it could be
God strategically aligning your promotion.
Having the largest social media following or
seeing a video go viral is not the way to get
promoted in the kingdom – staying humble
and serving those who despised him is what
did it for David. Men and women anointed for
kingdom authority trust God for promotion,
because they know the hidden place is the
secret place; and the secret place is where
the refining fire prepares them for greater
influence.
 Notice the mix of “wills” when David,
positioned and prepared by God in the
hidden fields, met the battle which defined
his future.
“This day the Lord will deliver you into my
hand, and I will strike you down and cut off
your head. And I will give the dead bodies
of the host of the Philistines this day to the
birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the
earth, that all the earth may know that there
is a God in Israel.” (I Samuel 17:46)
© iStock | HAKINMHAN
This verse clearly shows the Lord will deliver
and David will strike down — when you have
the marriage of those two wills nothing can
stand against them.
NO DOUBT
David had no doubt Goliath would die that
day.
He knew the kingdom was his and this was
the moment he had been preparing for all
his life. Though killing a lion and a bear were
admirable achievements – in reality, they
LIBERTI | 51
were only training exercises. Our greatest
victories up to now may only be the practice
run. If we get the glory, then it is probably
preparation, not promotion.
Promotion is found in the hidden place,
the dark night of the soul and the seasons
where our spirit cries I will, while our flesh
is screaming I won’t. God may hijack a
message, but He will never hijack our will.
At the start of this New Year, take some time
to think about what you will – and will not –
bring with you into the new season.
God is willing.
Are we?
Jen Baker is a speaker, author and leader who carries a
passion for freedom and the presence of God to impact
nations through ordinary people. Her zeal for following
God’s call has seen her sell everything and move
countries, author three books, and be heavily involved in
assisting victims of modern day slavery. Jen loves to run,
drink coffee, and be near the seaside. Not necessarily in
that order. Jen’s latest book, The Power of a Promise, is
available at jenbaker.co.uk
THE BEST OF 2018
SUE RINALDI

Thousands of albums are released every year and Liberti highlights just a
few. So before we get swept up in a new year of music, here’s a round-up
of the best of 2018 that you definitely don’t want to miss.

GOOD NEWS
Rend Collective

Irish band Rend Collective dispense a torrent of outright

joy and delight as they sing out their Christian faith within
a musical soundscape ranging from signature toe-tapping
energy to reflective sincerity. Gospel-inspired Good News is a
top release, delivering heart and creativity.

STAYING AT TAMARA’S
George Ezra

With songs penned during an inspirational decamp to Spain,

the frequent bursts of warmth and engaging choruses will
soothe your winter chills. Mix in some funky horns and
melody maturity and the charm of Ezra lives on.

ONLY THE BRAVE

Spring Harvest Live Worship

Only The Brave perfectly describes the live worship from all
Spring Harvest locations and the overall result transmits
sincerity and fervour, delivering bold declarations of devotion
to Christ and the Gospel. Popular songs ‘Reckless Love’,
‘Build My Life’ and ‘So Will I’ sit brilliantly alongside the newer
‘This Is Jesus’ and ‘Rock of Our Salvation’.

LIBERTI MUsIc | 52
GARDEN
United Pursuit

Journeying into more immersive territory, United Pursuit’s

creative approach is brave and honest. Every track glistens
with grandeur and creates an engaging garden of sonic
delight where each song becomes a doorway to effortless
contemplation. Enjoy your visit.

LIVING WITH A FIRE (LIVE)

Jesus Culture

Sonically-rich with mountainous dynamic and sea-bed

depth, accomplished vocalists Kim Walker-Smith, Chris
Quilala, Bryan and Katie Torwalt and Chris McClarney lead
with abandon and authenticity, melodically skating across
excellent arrangements. Energetic, exultant and thoroughly
enjoyable.

HIGH AS HOPE
Florence & The Machine

Florence & The Machine have gained recognition for eccentric

production, dramatic storylines and powerhouse vocals.
However, High As Hope is more minimalist and melancholic
with lead singer Florence Welch driving her way through
with a mix of raw vulnerability and stylish panache. Honest,
searching, self-reflective and very endearing.

STAND BY ME
The Kingdom Choir

Following their incredible performance of ‘Stand By Me’ at the

Royal Wedding in May, which went viral, this show-stopping
choir has released a collection of superb songs ranging from
contemporary to spiritual. Includes ‘Amazing Grace’, Stand By
Me’ and ‘Fix You’.

LIBERTI | 53
LIBERTI
AT THE MOVIES
© Number 9 Films
COLETTE
Keira Knightley stars as eponymous Gabrielle
Sidoni Colette, a young Frenchwoman
struggling to express herself at the
dawning of the modern age. She goes to
extraordinary lengths to find her place and
make herself heard, and eventual marries a
man known as Willy (Dominic West). Under
his encouragement and nurturing, Colette
writes a novel, which Willy has published
under his name. The ‘Claudine’ novels
become an overnight sensation, and propels
Willy into fame as a celebrity author. Colette
becomes increasingly frustrated at not being
recognised for her work and, encouraged by
the mysterious Marquise de Belbeuf (The
Fall’s Denise Gough), tries to break free from
Willy.
LIBERTI MoVIEs | 54
BY MARTIN LEGGATT
© Focus Features
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
This historical drama charts Mary Queen of
Scots’ (Saorsie Ronan - Brooklyn, Hanna)
attempt to usurp her cousin Queen Elizabeth I
(Margot Robbie - Wolf of Wall Street, I, Tanya)
from the throne as Queen of England. As any
history buff knows, Mary Stewart fails – not
exactly a spoiler alert – and spends the rest
of her time imprisoned with only her eventual
execution to look forward to. A fantastic
supporting cast including David Tennant, Guy
Pearce, Brendan Coyle, James McArdle and
Adrian Lester.
 © 30West
DESTROYER
Nicole Kidman is barely recognizable
as undercover LAPD detective Erin Bell.
Bell infiltrates a notorious gang of bank
robbers based in the Californian desert, an
assignment that comes to a tragic end. Many
years later, the leader of the gang resurfaces
and awakens memories in Erin that lead her
to track down the remaining gang members
to lay her demons to rest. By turns violent,
moving and heart breaking, this is possibly
Nicole Kidman’s best performance ever.
LIBERTI | 55
© Participant Media & Dreamworks
GREEN BOOK
This comedy drama is both by turns hilarious
and moving. Jamaican-American concert
pianist Don Shirley (played by Mahershala
Ali of House of Cards and Moonlight fame)
hires rough around the edges New York
bouncer Tony Lipp (The Lord of the Rings’
Viggo Mortensen) as his chauffeur on a tour
of the Deep South in the 1960’s. A typical
odd couple, they forge an unbreakable bond
of friendship, while Lipp encounters the
deeply imbedded racism of the South. There
are many moments to make you laugh in
the clash of sensibilities between the highly
cultured Shirley and rough around the edges
Lipp and, amazingly, the story is based on an
incredible true-life friendship.
B O OK CLU B
BEKAH LEGG

DARE TO LEAD
Brené Brown

If you’re a fan of Brené Brown, and who isn’t, then this book
should go at the top of your birthday list…if you can wait that
long. Building on her research on courage and vulnerability,
Brené applies it the world of work and leadership.
Encouraging the reader to be a daring leader, Brené explores
the armour we put on, why we do and the effect it has on our
leadership. She dares us to put the armour aside and stand
strong, coaching us on how to have difficult conversations
and how to create a culture where people can flourish.
Honestly, the best leadership book I’ve read in a long while.
© iStock | Svitlana Unuchko

LIBERTI BooKs | 56
IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAY
Lysa Terkeurst

If you’ve been through tough times – or, as one reviewer

wrote, you’ve licked the floor of hell – then this is a book
to bring you hope. Lysa shares her own journey from the
wilderness of loss and betrayal, from doubting the goodness
of God to encountering Him in a way that changed everything.
This is great book to read to grow your own faith, but also to
help you support those you love.

WALKING TO JERUSALEM
Justin Butcher

More than a travel journal, this book records the pilgrimage

of Justin Butcher and others as they travelled the ‘Just Walk’
from London to Jerusalem to raise awareness and campaign
for equality for all those who call Israel their home. It’s a
beautiful, educational and inspiring book which will challenge
you to think afresh about the Holy Land.

THE POWER OF LOVE

Bishop Michael B Curry

Were you one of the many wowed by Bishop Michael B Curry

at the royal wedding last year? Now you can get that sermon,
and four others, in this cute little book. A lovely present for an
engagement or wedding.

LIBERTI | 57
 MONEY ON YOUR MIND
HAYLEY TEARALL UNCOVERS THE
LINK BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP...
For the first time in history, the UK has a
suicide prevention minister. Jackie Doyle-
Price stepped into her role, quite fittingly, on
World Mental Health Day last October, and is
responsible for improving mental health care
and suicide prevention strategies.
I’m so glad that mental health is becoming
a priority. Having journeyed through my fair
share of difficulties, it’s such a relief to see
services becoming more accessible and
© iStock | master1305
conversations being started to tackle the
stigma of mental illness. Now out the other
LIBERTI | 59
side thanks to some amazing support, I get
to help others who are struggling like I once
was.
It may not surprise you, but poor mental
health massively contributes to poverty and
problem debt. 16% of clients of Christians
Against Poverty (CAP) listed mental ill-
health as the main reason for their money
struggles. The extra pressures that come
with a life-limiting condition, such as
treatment costs, a sudden reduction in
income due to being unable to work, or
just never knowing what each day could bring, can have a
dramatic effect on a person’s financial situation.

Thanks to stigma busting and awareness raising, and now

the appointment of a government minister dedicated to
suicide prevention, we’re definitely learning as a society how
to manage our general mental health better and make sure
it’s not something that’s ignored. This gives me hope that, as
we look out for those around us who are struggling, and take
steps to keep on top of our own mental health, we’ll be able
to tackle debt and poverty too. Something as straightforward
as a kind word or a listening ear has the power to improve not
just a person’s mental health, but also their financial situation,
helping to lift them out of hopelessness.

On the other hand, poverty and problem debt can actually

cause mental health issues. An eye-watering 73% of CAP’s
clients said their debt caused anxiety, and 65% said it caused
depression. These extreme statistics show that the fear,
isolation and hopelessness of debt are very real. Tackling
mental ill-health means that we need to address debt and
poverty.

So something as simple as working out a budget or building

up your savings could be more helpful than you might think.
By offering to help people get a handle on their finances, we
can help ease pressure and improve wellbeing, and equip
them for any challenges further down the line.

If this all feels close to home, search online for Martin Lewis’
free Mental Health & Debt booklet for some great tools for
managing your money more effectively. You could also find
your local CAP Money Course for award winning guidance on
budgeting, spending and saving for the future.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) runs services through local churches

across the UK to help people struggling with the causes of poverty. If you
need help with debt, unemployment, addiction or low income, search for
your nearest CAP centre at capuk.org.

LIBERTI fInAncE | 60
 Hayley is a copywriter for Christians Against Poverty (CAP), alongside studying Psychotherapy and Counselling. Part of
© iStock | Tzido

her church’s worship team, Hayley also enjoys a good countryside adventure, and loves musical theatre.

LIBERTI | 61
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 LEAVING THE
CULINARY
COMFORT
ZONE
LAST WORD: CATHY MADAVAN
Recently, I was taken well and truly out of my
culinary comfort zone. I was at a Leaders’
lunch in a fabulous restaurant, and couldn’t
mask my confusion as I perused a menu
that contained words that were recognisably
English, but in combinations I had never
previously witnessed. BBQ spiced pig ears?
Duck and pineapple doughnuts? Burnt
squash? That’s right – deliberately burnt, not
accidentally cremated like my food at home.
I was baffled, but I decided to eat whatever
mysterious morsels appeared in front of
me. And, I must report, it was all absolutely
awesome.
Is it just me, though, or has food gone very
fancy-schmancy these days? You can’t have
any old caramel anymore; if it’s not salted,
it’s not satisfactory. Pork is now apparently
perpetually pulled. No longer are our Western
taste buds satisfied with a floppy cheese
and pickle sandwich; we require Brie and
cranberry on brioche, thank you very much.
We are on a constant search for appetising
amusement, culinary drama if you will. Our
pampered taste buds won’t settle for a bog-
standard feeding; they demand a full-scale
entertainment package.
You do have to wonder whether our
consumer tendencies are spiralling
Cathy Madavan is a writer, speaker, coach and author of books such as Digging for Diamonds and Living On Purpose.
She is a popular speaker at events, churches and conferences around the UK and beyond, and often tours with Care for
the Family as part of their speaking team. Cathy lives on the South Coast with her husband Mark, a church leader, and
they have two daughters. cathymadavan.com
LIBERTI LAsT WoRD | 70
somewhat out of control. Suddenly we want
hundreds of TV series to select from, and
waiting for a new episode seems a very
quaint idea. We think it’s normal to buy fast
fashion at a knockdown price, and to select
from thirty brands of shampoo to find the
one designed for our hair’s exact colour and
texture. If at church we are offered a mug of
instant coffee instead of an Americano from
a hipster coffee machine accompanied by
a croissant from a slate board (ideally with
accompanying fairy lights), we feel positively
short changed. A plate of custard creams will
simply not cut it. Boy, we are getting hard to
please.
Of course, none of us are entitled to all this
rampant choice and neither are we designed
to live a predominantly self-indulgent life,
especially when so many people live without
the basics. The ironic truth is that we find far
more fulfilment in the serving of others than
being served. As Jesus once wisely said,
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Ultimately, it is connecting not collecting that
fills our soul. I want to live a more grateful
and generous life, and to notice the many
blessings and choices I am given every day.
Sure, I might make a BBQ spiced pig’s ear of
it, but it’s a challenge I’m willing to take up.
© iStock | Kaplanec
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