Bailiwick Bubble

This is the first day of freedom from all Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in the bailiwick of Guernsey. (Saturday 20th June 2020). The island group of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm, plus a few smaller islands, has eliminated the virus with no new cases for 50 days now, and so there is no more need for social distancing, special measures or limits on numbers of people gathering. Tonight there will be a 'gig' in a local music venue and tomorrow the islands' churches will fling open their doors to all-comers!

Wow, what a moment for our small communities! It is being officially called our 'bailiwick bubble' because we can all function normally as we did before the pandemic with one exception. If we travel further than these islands, or if someone arrives here, they must strictly self-isolate for 14 days, checked by police and subject to a £10,000 fine if breached. So, in some ways, this is an artificial 'normal' not really the new normal. But it is a great start and we are grateful for the actions of our government and the expertise of its public health team led by Dr Nicola Brink. Leadership plus community action have led to this success, but those of us who pray for them are grateful to God too for this outcome.

Of course, 'fortress Guernsey' can only go on for a limited time. One day the borders will reopen, although the island's leaders are talking about 'when a vaccine comes' or when neighbouring jurisdictions get their virus under real control. Until then we can enjoy our new freedom and welcome the chance to live life as we can whist experiencing a kind of bigger 'isolation'.

This reminds me of the importance of being together with others. I am longing to see the faces of our faith community at Vazon Elim Church in the morning. We will continue to Livestream our services and value our online congregation highly. We know we have folk sharing with us from the UK, Belgium, Spain, Canada and even South Africa! In that sense we are not cut off, but being able to meet together in person as Christians, to love and even hug those who are not too scared to do so, is an absolute dream. Hope you can join us at 10.45am, in the flesh or online - come and celebrate! You will be so welcome to our bailiwick bubble!

Investing in Freedom

Diane and I have just returned from spending a few days teaching at the Teen Challenge UK School of Ministry.  They now meet in the their new national HQ called Willoughby House on the main road between Leicester and Nottingham.  There, in what was a Best Western Hotel, they now have a men's rehab unit for drug addicts and alcoholics, their national admin offices, and also the 6 month SoM.  It was a tremendous joy to be in the atmosphere of this dynamic place.  The guys on rehab spend about one year getting cleaned up and set free from life-controlling addiction.  The success rate for this ministry is 80% - a phenomenal outcome for people who were so messed up before.  Once they graduate from the programme they have the option to take a further 6 months in the School of Ministry to prepare for Christian service.  This is a real example of the Bible verse that says: 'If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation: the old has gone and the new has come!' Exciting!

One real concern I have is that this organisation is so heavily dependent on gift income to survive.  Each person they take out of an addicted lifestyle is saving the state millions in prevented crimes, released hospital beds, empty prison cells etc.  In fact, I met one guy newly arrived from prison who had been sent there by the courts. Yet there is very little state funding of the programme. Also, when you consider the millions that are recouped from illicit drugs money by the authorities, how come so little of this finds its way into rehab?  So, when I saw an empty gymnasium with no equipment because of lack of funds, and a broken down minibus that will cost £24,000 to replace and so is lying unusable, I was angry at the lack of vision in our society.

I really hope and pray that businesses and even governments will respond to this challenge and make sure that these young people who are no longer part of the victim culture or even the drugs supply chain itself, have the resources they need to start this new life with a flying start.  You can find out more at their website www.teenchallenge.co.uk