Head of Public Affairs at the Evangelical Alliance, Dr Don Horrocks has been on the Agenda Tour. This tour was run by Rob Frost at Share Jesus International and discussed issues including freedom of speech. It centred around Frost's 'Freedom Fighters' book, of which Don Horrocks is a contributor.
If you would like to hear or watch the tour then please visit the Premier Radio website. The Agenda Tour will also be broadcast on God TV on Saturday 11 March – 12:00pm, Sunday 12 March – 11:00am and 20:00pm and Monday 13th March – 09:00.
Don logged a diary of his time on the tour. Read this below:
Monday 20th February 2006
There was a good turnout on Friday morning in Northampton. We had a very enthusiastic audience and lots were very committed to helping in any way that they could. Many of the questions asked on this occasion were about problems with their local schools, councils and other public organisations, for example one person describing how their local school will no longer allow hot cross buns at Easter. On Friday evening the tour moved to Norwich. It was a good evening, with lots of questions and many requests for help from people wanting to know more about what they can do to help and how to get the church to respond to the issues.
Today was the last day of the tour and the Methodist Church in Exeter was our point of call in the morning, with 100 people present. Again, there were lots of questions and some good discussion. Many people talked about their experiences of being warned about being seen to be Christian, for example in care homes, and schools that couldn't mention the gospel.
This afternoon we were with 60 or so people in Plymouth. There was more good discussion, with groups who run Christian charities expressing concern about their ability to present their projects in a Christian way in the current situation. They feel that they are under pressure to minimise their Christian symbols, and are worried that people in the churches seem to be asleep and uninterested, and want to know how we can wake them up.
Rob Frost summed up the tour by saying that he thought that the tour had spoken to 1000 church leaders over the three weeks.
For more information about the tour please see www.sharejesusinternational.com
Friday 17 February 2006
Last night the tour was in Sheffield, where there was a smaller group than previous events, but the quality of debate, discussion and the questions remained high. Several people asked how they could get their churches involved and responding to the issues. It seems that in every church there is at least one person with a heart for public affairs issues, who is spurred to action and to try to persuade their church to pray, often using our briefing materials. The difficulty is in making the connection between the message and the people in the pews. The message from the tour is that we must do more to link and communicate with churches, as people attending the tour expressed the wish that they had known more about the issues addressed in the tour beforehand as more people would have come. This morning the tour is in Northampton, and this evening in Norwich.
For more information about the tour please see www.sharejesusinternational.com
Thursday 16 February 2006
Last night the tour was in Stoke-on-Trent, where we had a good evening.
Today we spent the morning at Cliff College in Derbyshire, with 100 ministers and students, who asked a range of excellent questions. There were questions about politicians and their motivations, and the perspective of Christian politicians. There were also some very deep questions about our approach, querying whether or not we should be less abrasive and confrontational. We received many requests for help and for resources, as well as questions about what Christians should do to remain in public life with good conscience. We received a warm welcome and were delighted to be there.
For more information about the tour please see www.sharejesusinternational.com
Wednesday 15 February 2006
Last night the tour was in Manchester, with many people joining the team. The questions were mainly about balance between campaigning and engaging constructively with government. We need to strike a balance between defending our rights and those of others. Everyone present was wonderfully enthusiastic.
This morning the tour was at Regents College in Nantwich, holding two sessions. At the first were over 100 students, and the second was for over 60 ministers who came in for the event.
All kinds of stories came out at these events, about people who had been asked to hide their Christianity in the public arena, not being allowed to wear the label ‘Christian’. We were able to assure them that such treatment is illegal, that they have the right to be openly Christian.
Tuesday 14 February 2006
Last night we were at Helsby, near Chester, where numbers were smaller than they had been previously on the tour but the group were very enthusiastic. People were asking how they could do more and how best to mobilise churches. There was also questions about the practical response to ethical dilemmas, for example abortion. Several people also wanted to know how to deal with difficult local authorities. I am really encouraged by the commitment of Christians we have met on the Agenda Tour so far in wanting to get involved in issues that so profoundly affect our society.
This morning the tour will be in Blackpool, and this evening they will visit Manchester.
For more information about the tour please see www.sharejesusinternational.com
Monday 13 February 2006
On Friday evening we were in Newcastle, followed this morning by the seminar in Cheltenham. In both venues we were really well received, with lots of support, and encouraging feedback from people who had been involved in campaigning over the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill.
Those that attended asked how they could help to brief their congregations further as many still were not’ aware of all that had gone on or the issues at stake. Our response was to ask them to encourage their congregations to try to engage with the world around them, become involved in local life, and to subscribe to PQ and other titles that raise awareness, to enable them to speak out and act in an informed way. The reactions at both events was very positive indeed.
Friday 10 February 2006
The Capernwray event yesterday morning was packed. It was an excellent meeting with many from the college and the surrounding area. The message was received clearly, and the event was encouraging.
Last night we were at St John’s College, Durham, with a largely student and academic audience. Here there was a more controversial reaction to our message, as some interesting debates ensued, and both our points and our motives were challenged. I have been asked to return to continue the dialogue after the tour is over, and agreed to return. The level of discussion was more sophisticated than previous events on the tour, and issues were brought up that will require the exploration of different viewpoints, and I look forward to going back!
Quote from Rob Frost:
"It is really encouraging to see Christians from many different backgrounds relating to issues that are shaping our society. Sometimes the views have been divergent but the overriding message has been that we must get involved and shape the world in which we live."
For more information about the tour please see www.sharejesusinternational.com
Thursday 9 February 2006
The Christian Resources Exhibition in Stoneleigh, near Coventry, was our next stop. We presented a seminar which was filmed and will be put on the Premier website. The seminar was packed out as we presented to the room. This was the only point on the tour at which we were under some time pressures, owing to the filming, so on this occasion there was no dialogue.
We were aware that last Tuesday God was very much doing things in the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill. Danny Nalliah was with us again to share his experiences, showing how important it was that the Bill had to be won. The main benefit from the event was again to show how much Christians can achieve together, and to prepare us for future challenges, since we can achieve so much more together. While there we linked up with the Evangelical Alliance stand, with their focus on the ‘What’s God doing?’ survey [take part in this survey - link to your right].
For more information about the tour please see www.sharejesusinternational.com
Wednesday 8 February 2006
Yesterday the Agenda tour was in Nailsea and Newport, with about 60 people attending each event. It was interesting to note that again people’s responses were very enthusiastic, aware and delighted at the outcome of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill. Many had played a part in the outcome by writing to their local MP. It was encouraging to see the involvement at a local level that had gone on, as people told us how they had responded positively to our call for action.
In turn we encouraged them not to sit back and become complacent after all their efforts, but to be alert for an approach by the Government to undermine civil liberties again - in such a way that this is out of balance with crucial civil liberties and the right of minorities to be protected. The key message from both meetings was for the Church to wake up and not be afraid of confronting attempts to silence or marginalise its Christian voice in the public sphere.
For more information about the tour please see www.sharejesusinternational.com
Tuesday 7 February 2006
We were at the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity, yesterday afternoon, with around 140 people. It was a lively, interesting session. Many asked about the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill and how it would affect them in church and what they should be doing about this. We were joined by Danny Nalliah, a Pentecostal pastor, who last year was found to have breached a religious vilification law in the Australian state of Victoria after complaints from Muslims, who shared some of his experiences with us. There were questions asked about how we engage with Muslims now, with the response that we should be gracious, respectful and show them the love of Christ. There was also concern and relief about the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill. There is no room for complacency, as we will need to work together again soon, as big things are in the pipeline for the future. This morning the Agenda tour will be in Nailsea, near Bristol, and this evening in Newport.
For more information please see www.sharejesusinternational.com
