Embracing age of the internet

Many Christian organisations are embracing the new Internet age as a way of reaching the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.John Breeze takes a look at the relatively new phenomenon of the World Wide Web and some Christian websites.

The new information technology age is seen as the third great revolution by many people. Following the agricultural revolution of 800 years ago and the industrial revolution of the 18th century this new information age is going to revolutionise the way we live, work, shop and maybe even how we ‘do church’!
That is almost certainly an extreme view but however you see it, the rapid development of electronic and telecommunications does produce a great opportunity for churches to be involved in communicating the good news about Jesus.
It can work at four levels. The simplest is e-mail, sending messages over the web from one address to another, instantly.
Taken a step further you get to Chat Rooms. Over the World Wide Web interactive conversations can occur with several people at once. I know of at least one young man who has come to faith through conversations in a Chat Room.
The third way is to set up a website. This is an address on the web where information about yourself or your organisation is available for others anywhere in the world to read. A great publicity opportunity exists here.

Many Christian organisations and hundreds of churches have websites, including a number from Norwich (see below).
Norwich Cathedral, with support from Eastern Counties Newspapers has a site at www.cathedral.org.uk with information about, amongst other things, its new £10million refurbishment programme. The site has ‘hits’ from around the world at a rate of about 5000 per month. Dereham Baptist Church has a site at www.derehambaptist.co.uk. Wayne Hudson of Oak Grove Chapel has a personal website at www.saviour.org which is devoted to Christian poetry with contributions from around the world. Wayne also engages in prayer on the web.
British Youth for Christ at www.yfc.co.uk is co-operating with the Scripture Gift Mission to offer a Chat Room service for young people which is to be advertised on trendy postcards in cinemas. A full time youth evangelist will be available to chat with young people on the web.
The fourth way in which the web can be used is searching for information whether to help prepare a sermon or even, as young James Harroven of Dickleborough did, find a parish priest for the village, www.dickleburghnorfolk.freeserve.co.uk/benefice.htm. The Rev Janice Scott responded to his electronic plea. You can visit Janice’s own sermons and stories site at www.sermons-stories.co.uk
As always, though, there is a down side. There is a danger of an underclass, a marginalised community of people who will miss out on this wonderful world whether for financial, social or whatever reason. It is to these that the church has a particular responsibility to see that they do not slip through the net. There will always be a place for good, interactive and face to face personal relationships.

City on the web

The Good News for Norwich newspaper has its own website with links to a number of Norwich churches. It is planned to expand this free service into a Norwich church and Christian organisation web directory. If you would like us to publicise your site for free please log onto the site at www.gnfn.ukf.net where you will find details on how to contact us and get linked-up on-line.
If you are interested in helping us to develop this project please contact editor Keith Morris at keithmorris@ukgateway.net or on 01508 488318.

The Good News for Norwich website also has regularly updated news about the Christian church in Norwich, even before it appears in our paper version.
If you log on right now you can see an exclusive interview with Alpha pioneer Nicky Gumbel who is back in Norwich this September to invite the nation to supper at the launch of the Alpha 2000 initiative.

Four-day jubilee Living Water Festival in May

A special jubilee Living Water Festival is promised in Norwich this May to celebrate the start of a new millennium. Keith Morris reports

For the first time ever, the Living Water Festival will be a four-day event held over the first May bank holiday weekend - Friday April 28 to Monday May 1.
A great list of speakers has been lined up including Mike Breen, Graham Cray, Martin Down, Faith Forster, Bob McKenzie, David and Mary Pytches.
Dave Fellingham, making a popular return from three years ago, will be leading the worship.
“The focus for Living Water this year is Jesus, in all his glory, as we celebrate 2000 years of his grace,” said organiser Stephen Mawditt.
“This is an event for all the family. A full programme for children and young people will again be provided courtesy of Norwich Youth for Christ’s Soul Survivor programme and Living Water’s own Wavemakers children’s ministry.”
Living Water will take place as usual on the Royal Norfolk Showground, near Norwich, with camping available on site or bed and breakfast accommodation nearby.

You can come for the whole weekend or visit each day. Booking fees range from £10 to £45 for the full four days.
“The inspiration for Living Water came as a result of a group of people from two Norfolk villages attending New Wine,” explained Stephen. “This proved to be a life-changing event for individuals and the churches they came from and Living Water was established to bring that sort of experience within easier reach particularly for those living in Eastern England.”
Last year Living Water was attended by 3000 people from across the country.
Further details from Stephen Mawditt, Living Water, The Old Barn, Watton Road, Ashill, Thetford, Norfolk. IP25 7AQ. Tel : 01760 441 441 or e-mail: living.water@btinternet.com

weblink: www.living.water.btinternet.co.uk

Radio station will broadcast event to Norwich

You can get in the mood for Living Water even before the festival starts by tuning into the event’s very own dedicated Christian radio station, Living Water Radio 107.3FM.
After its successful debut last year, the radio team are back once more broadcasting to most of Norwich and surrounding towns and villages for six days over the first May bank holiday.
The Living Water Radio team consists of an inter-church group of volunteers, presenters, reporters, engineers and reception staff, many with experience of BBC, commercial, university and hospital radio behind them.
The station has been granted a restricted service licence which will enable it to broadcast 24-hours a day on 107.3 FM from midday on Wednesday April 26 to late on Monday May 1. It will again be produced from specially set-up studios on the Norfolk Showground.
“We will be offering a mix of contemporary Christian music including the latest in praise and worship, as well as classic pop hits, in-depth features, interviews, what’s on details, hourly news, late night chat shows and competitions,” said station manager Andy Hopley.

“The six-day station is just part of a larger vision that the Norfolk Churches Radio team have for Christian broadcasting in the area and we have already developed a complete portable broadcast studio using the latest technology,” said Andy.
More details, including advertising opportunities, are available from Andy Hopley on 01603 891749 or e-mail: andy@hopley.freeserve.co.uk

Dave Hatherley presenting a show on last year's Living Water Radio

Paul lands dream job

Paul Cracknell

Paul Cracknell has long had a dream to work for Norwich Youth For Christ in some capacity. But he never expected that his dream would be fulfilled by him taking over as its new director. Anne Forbes reports

Paul is a Norfolk man. He grew up and went to school in Dereham and attended university in Norwich. But he was working for an insurance firm in London when it was announced that Ian Savory, director of NYFC for so many years, was leaving to take up a different leadership role in a city church.
Paul felt that he must apply for the post and leave the outcome to God. To his delight, he was offered the post and began work back in January.
Paul grew up in a Christian family. He cannot date his conversion but remembers how the sense of belonging and commitment grew during his teenage years until he made the public profession of baptism at his home church, Dereham Baptist.

After A levels including religious studies at Dereham Northgate School, he went to the University of East Anglia to read law. While there, he became very involved with NYFC, particularly with the Ritzy’s/Icon nightclub work led by Tracey Hislop and with the Living Water Festival.
At UEA he met Heather who is now an occupational therapist. They have been married four years and are currently in the process of setting up home in Norwich.
Like NYFC, Paul wants to meet people “where they are”. His admiration for Ian, and what he has achieved, comes through very strongly as he speaks of NYFC and its mission. He sees his role as continuing the existing work of discipling, training and encouraging young people, particularly through Fridays - a safe environment, where Christian youngsters can also discuss and be challenged in ways that would perhaps be inappropriate in their own church fellowship. Of equal importance to him is the evangelistic outreach, mainly through the schools work, Supernova and the Concept nightclub.

Although Paul, wisely, intends to take his time getting to know people and the different aspects of the work before looking to further development or new initiatives, there is certainly no lack of vision.
One concern on his mind and heart is the 11-14 age group, currently not addressed by NYFC except in schools, but he recognises that this would be a huge commitment which must await God’s leading and provision. He is passionately determined to help NYFC to bring the gospel to more and more of the city’s young people; to train, equip and encourage those already committed to Christ; to work with churches and others to be effective for the Kingdom, to “make a difference for God”.
If you would like Paul or another member of the team to visit your church, or have other queries, please contact the office at 3 Brigg St, Norwich NR2 1ON, tel: 01603 620678.

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