0:00:02 > 0:00:06# We hear you... #
0:00:06 > 0:00:08I grew up going to church -
0:00:08 > 0:00:11it was part of the African-Caribbean tradition.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Back then, church was strict.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18No cinema, no dancing and no pop music.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26But times have changed. Across the country, churches are closing.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Less than three million people now go to church.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Whether it's beliefs, whether it's attendance at places of worship,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36whether it's identity, Christianity is in decline.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40And yet, it's not the whole story.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44The empty pews are being filled by Christians from abroad.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48It was a shock when we saw the numbers of, you know,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Polish people coming.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55There are Christians challenging long-held beliefs.
0:00:55 > 0:01:0072% of Anglicans under 35 are in favour of gay marriage.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03It is not pro-Christian, it is anti-gay.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08And others are going to court to defend them.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13I do feel that Christianity is being marginalised in Britain.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Christians are speaking out.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Christianity is radical and it should be political as well.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24And church is starting to look very different.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25It's a time of transition.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I think we're starting to see a struggle now for the heart
0:01:32 > 0:01:34and soul of Christianity.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38I'm going to meet Christians at the forefront of this struggle...
0:01:38 > 0:01:40We're not a political party, we're a family.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43It's a family that bickers like crazy.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48..to find out what it means for the future of Christianity in Britain.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54We are at a time in world history where Christianity has
0:01:54 > 0:01:57an enormous part to play.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02We will see this nation come back to God.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18For many people, going to church on a Sunday isn't what it used to be,
0:02:18 > 0:02:19as I'm about to find out.
0:02:22 > 0:02:23HUM OF CONVERSATION
0:02:23 > 0:02:26- Hi, Dan, how you doing?- Good to see you.- So, this is where it's happening.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30- This is Hillsong.- That's quite a buzz out here.- Yeah, we're just getting ready for the next service.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34LOUD MUSIC PLAYS
0:02:37 > 0:02:39CONGREGATION SINGS ALONG
0:02:43 > 0:02:46This is Hillsong, a church which fills
0:02:46 > 0:02:50London's Dominion Theatre four times over every Sunday.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52That's more than 8,000 people.
0:02:54 > 0:02:55HE MOUTHS
0:02:57 > 0:03:01It feels like God's nightclub, with love songs to Jesus
0:03:01 > 0:03:06and a message that teaches you how a relationship with God can
0:03:06 > 0:03:08help maximise your potential. CHEERING
0:03:08 > 0:03:10See you next week!
0:03:13 > 0:03:16There's a task that is set before you,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18so if we just say, "There's a task set before us."
0:03:18 > 0:03:23There's our life. If I can say it like this, "Hey, just relax."
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Cos it's not going to be your effort.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28It's not going to be your might or your power,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30however you want to look at it,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33but it's going to be His spirit at work in your life.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Hillsong is from Australia.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37It's part of the Pentecostal movement.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41It feels to me like charismatic faith meeting
0:03:41 > 0:03:44the aspirations of today's young people.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50'Afterwards, I caught up with church pastor Gary Clarke.'
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Do you think there's a battle for the soul of Britain?
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Ooh! That's a big question!
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Um... I don't know.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03I wouldn't call it a battle. Um...
0:04:03 > 0:04:07You know, it's... I think there is a...there is a...
0:04:07 > 0:04:09a perception of church.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12There's a perception of even Christianity
0:04:12 > 0:04:17that... Public perception has so narrowed it down to
0:04:17 > 0:04:21one or two singular, singular things.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23And I think, if we're going to talk about a battle,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27I think trying to show people that Christianity is relevant to every
0:04:27 > 0:04:30individual's personal life. Um...
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Then I think we've got a battle against that.
0:04:33 > 0:04:34That's... That's for sure.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42That was incredibly lively, energetic and youthful.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46It's the kind of church I would have gone to 30 years ago
0:04:46 > 0:04:49but now, at my age, I'm a bit old for it.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52But I can see why young people are attracted to coming here.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03Britain is changing.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Secularisation,
0:05:07 > 0:05:08technology,
0:05:08 > 0:05:10globalism -
0:05:10 > 0:05:12they're all making their mark.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16No surprise, then, that churches are also starting to look different.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22One of the biggest changes in the last 60 years or so
0:05:22 > 0:05:25has been the growth of multicultural Britain.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28In some places, it has quite literally changed
0:05:28 > 0:05:30the face of the church.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Immigration's made a huge difference to Christianity
0:05:33 > 0:05:38in recent decades because, of all migrants to Britain, by religion,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Christianity is by far the largest.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46On declaration of your faith in Christ,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48we baptise you in the name of the Father,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50the Son and the Holy Spirit.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51TRANSLATOR TRANSLATES
0:05:56 > 0:05:58At St George's in Barnsley,
0:05:58 > 0:06:02they've had over 50 baptisms in the last year.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06I want to get baptised because I want to be with God.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15But they need a translator to assist at these baptisms
0:06:15 > 0:06:18because so many of the converts are immigrants.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21We baptise you in the name of the Father,
0:06:21 > 0:06:23the Son and the Holy Spirit...
0:06:23 > 0:06:24TRANSLATOR TRANSLATES
0:06:37 > 0:06:42The translator at St George's is Sadegh - an Iranian refugee and
0:06:42 > 0:06:46Christian convert who fled his home country for fear of persecution.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52He's recently been appointed the church's Evangelism coordinator.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57Father, show me one person to talk to, in Jesus' name, Father...
0:06:57 > 0:07:00He goes out on the streets of Barnsley to talk to
0:07:00 > 0:07:02people about God and the church.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04God created us to be with him,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08to receive this love and to give this love back to him.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Whoever believes in him shall not perish
0:07:11 > 0:07:13but will have everlasting life.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15'For years, I wanted to kind of
0:07:15 > 0:07:19'reach out to town more spontaneously'
0:07:19 > 0:07:21but never had the personnel, really.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25I'm not like at all that and there's been no-one in the congregation
0:07:25 > 0:07:26who's been like that.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30And so I've been praying for years, "Lord, send us someone who's got
0:07:30 > 0:07:32"that gifting to go out."
0:07:32 > 0:07:35And Sadegh came to us as an Iranian translator.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39- Thank you, my friend. - Bless you. Bless you, brother.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43But having seen his gifting, I just said, "I could see you doing this,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45"please try it." And it's just been wonderful.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- Do you mind if I pray for you?- Yeah.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Sadegh is bold in his faith.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52You know, I was Muslim background but then Jesus saved my life.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57To British tastes, his approach can seem unconventional.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59# You're the Son of God, Jesus...
0:08:01 > 0:08:03# You're the lord of lords...
0:08:06 > 0:08:08# King of kings... #
0:08:08 > 0:08:10'I'm not a good singer,'
0:08:10 > 0:08:13but I don't care what people think. I'm not living for people.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15I love people, but I'm living for God
0:08:15 > 0:08:19and God uses any opportunity to speak to people.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Very good to see you. Jesus loves you.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26'Did Jesus sit in the church?'
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Jesus always went to people.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32The ministry is outside, it's not inside.
0:08:35 > 0:08:41# Come, now is the time to worship
0:08:43 > 0:08:44# Come... #
0:08:44 > 0:08:48The confidence of faith shared by immigrants like Sadegh has
0:08:48 > 0:08:51changed St George's dramatically in the last ten years.
0:08:53 > 0:08:5640% of the congregation are now immigrants.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02We came to Barnsley 27 years ago, to an all-white congregation,
0:09:02 > 0:09:04and Barnsley was 99% white then.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06But 20 years ago, I felt God giving me
0:09:06 > 0:09:09a vision of building a house of prayer for all nations.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12We put a big banner up in front of the church saying,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14"House of prayer for all nations",
0:09:14 > 0:09:17and we've just had an influx of mainly refugees and asylum seekers.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Good morning.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Sadegh, and many of the other immigrants and refugees,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25play a vital role in the running of the church.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29I have an African honorary curate.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Five members of our PCC are from other nations.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Our Evangelism co-ordinator is an Iranian.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Our church warden is Argentinian.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38They're really at the heart of our church life.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41It's very hard to imagine the church without them.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44# He can move the mountains
0:09:45 > 0:09:48# He rose and conquered the grave... #
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Christians from overseas bringing their spiritual fervour
0:09:52 > 0:09:55to the streets of the UK is nothing new.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59In the '50s and '60s, African-Caribbean people
0:09:59 > 0:10:03brought their own tradition of street preaching called "warners".
0:10:03 > 0:10:07These days, with Christianity in decline, the arrival of new
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Christians can revitalise a church.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12It can also be a challenge.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Certainly, the traditional church structures are having
0:10:15 > 0:10:17to take immigration much more seriously.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19They're having to listen to the people on the ground,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21joining the churches in quite large numbers,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24speaking a different language, perhaps coming from different
0:10:24 > 0:10:26forms of worship and wanting to bring change.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28It is shaking the church up.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34If you look at the membership of the Roman Catholic Church in
0:10:34 > 0:10:37this country, it would have shrunk enormously if it hadn't
0:10:37 > 0:10:40been for the immigration that we've experienced from Eastern Europe.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49By 2005, over a quarter of Catholics had stopped going to church.
0:10:51 > 0:10:52HE SPEAKS IN POLISH
0:10:54 > 0:10:58But around the same time, migrants from Eastern Europe
0:10:58 > 0:11:01started coming to Britain for work.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03They also wanted to go to church.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04THEY SPEAK IN POLISH
0:11:07 > 0:11:10This is St Simon's in Glasgow.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13It's been providing a separate Polish mass
0:11:13 > 0:11:16since Poles settled here after the Second World War.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26But 12 years ago, it saw a dramatic change.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34As soon as the European borders opened for those coming to work,
0:11:34 > 0:11:36a lot of young people came.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40They were just coming over in hordes.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44The parish priest, suddenly, he was getting phone calls
0:11:44 > 0:11:48from the police saying there are Polish people just coming
0:11:48 > 0:11:51off the train and they think they've to come and stay here.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Now, there's two beds in there, that's all.
0:11:56 > 0:11:57'It was a shock,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00'when we saw the numbers of Polish people coming.'
0:12:00 > 0:12:03It's a little church and it can only
0:12:03 > 0:12:05hold approximately 200 people.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12St Simon's now has four masses every weekend -
0:12:12 > 0:12:15two in Polish and two in English.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21They come to England and find churches that are converted
0:12:21 > 0:12:27into clubs or university buildings, or other things.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29And one young person said to me,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33"This feels like English people have forgotten God."
0:12:33 > 0:12:36CHATTER
0:12:36 > 0:12:41So there's this real sense of almost of a loss
0:12:41 > 0:12:44of the faith that they feel when they come here.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47'The first year here was very dark for me.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50'I was here on my own, I was deeply depressed,
0:12:50 > 0:12:55'and I went on a pilgrimage and life changed for me drastically.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59'My inner change was very deep and very radical when I met Jesus.'
0:12:59 > 0:13:01THEY PRAY IN POLISH
0:13:08 > 0:13:11As young Poles continue to arrive in Glasgow,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14they bring with them a renewed spiritual energy.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18- ALL:- Amen.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Some of us are quite fresh, here in Scotland,
0:13:23 > 0:13:28but I think we are invited by the Holy Spirit to cooperate with
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Scottish people and take part in building Scottish Church as well.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35I was maybe thinking we could do one night in English
0:13:35 > 0:13:38because sometimes like I feel like I'm at work,
0:13:38 > 0:13:40and I want to tell them about the meetings we have,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42but it's very hard for me to invite them
0:13:42 > 0:13:44if it's going to be all in Polish.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46The church now has to work out
0:13:46 > 0:13:50how to respond to the enthusiasm of these young Christians.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57'It's a case of, although we talk about dwindling numbers
0:13:57 > 0:14:00'and what have you, God is alive in the world.'
0:14:01 > 0:14:05I think the challenge is for us to respond to him.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12But what happens when Christians from overseas believe that
0:14:12 > 0:14:17what God wants is different from the ideas of wider society?
0:14:23 > 0:14:25As well as a passion for their faith,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28when Christians come to Britain, they also bring with them
0:14:28 > 0:14:31their values, traditions and beliefs.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Sometimes, these beliefs rub up against the values
0:14:35 > 0:14:37of mainstream society.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39In recent times, this has been the case
0:14:39 > 0:14:41with so-called hot-button issues
0:14:41 > 0:14:45such as abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51People who are coming into our country from parts
0:14:51 > 0:14:53of the global south,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55or the Afro-Caribbean churches,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59are coming from more conservative parts of the world.
0:14:59 > 0:15:05And as...generations pass, we are observing very interesting patterns
0:15:05 > 0:15:09as to how these groups of people become part of British society.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19The fastest growing Christian movement in the world
0:15:19 > 0:15:21is Pentecostalism.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26In the UK, the fastest growing church is part of that movement.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32# My God is awesome... #
0:15:32 > 0:15:34Yes, he is awesome!
0:15:34 > 0:15:36# Awesome... #
0:15:36 > 0:15:38There's no-one like him, he's awesome!
0:15:38 > 0:15:40# Awesome... #
0:15:40 > 0:15:45The Redeemed Christian Church of God began in Nigeria
0:15:45 > 0:15:47and came to Britain in the late '80s.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51# Awesome... #
0:15:51 > 0:15:58It has almost 750 churches nationwide and over 50,000 members.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05As long as we refuse to give the heavens any rest,
0:16:05 > 0:16:10as we pray to God in prayer, not for our will but for him
0:16:10 > 0:16:13to bring his will to pass.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Pastor Agu is confident the church can attract even more people.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21'The goals for the future'
0:16:21 > 0:16:23are to expand the church,
0:16:23 > 0:16:29to reach more people, to reach people from other ethnic groups,
0:16:29 > 0:16:33especially when you exist in a multicultural society.
0:16:33 > 0:16:40I'm optimistic that we will see this nation come back to God.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43# You do glorious things
0:16:43 > 0:16:46# You're a faithful God
0:16:46 > 0:16:49# Awesome is your name... #
0:16:51 > 0:16:55That was a great example of Pentecostal worship.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00It was lively, it was engaged, practical and full of hope,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02and that's why it works.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03Jesus tells a parable...
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Many Pentecostal Christians
0:17:07 > 0:17:10regard the Bible as the literal word of God.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14In this country, that can sometimes be at odds with
0:17:14 > 0:17:17our more liberal society.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22I want to know how Pastor Agu navigates the potential conflicts.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27How, then, would you engage with the issue of same-sex marriage from
0:17:27 > 0:17:31the context of the Bible and the traditions of the redeemed church?
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Our message is one of love. We don't judge, we don't condemn,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37we love everybody,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40but we have a worldview that comes from the Bible
0:17:40 > 0:17:44and so that worldview is that we believe that
0:17:44 > 0:17:48monoga...monogamous marriage between a man and a woman
0:17:48 > 0:17:53is God's definition of how the family should exist.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58Can other people have views that are opposed to that? Absolutely!
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Will I respect other people's views? Absolutely!
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Am I going to condemn or judge other people's views?
0:18:04 > 0:18:09That's totally un-Christian. I can live with many different views,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12but in the same way I would expect that people would also
0:18:12 > 0:18:15respect my own position and my own worldview.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18And given that there are these different positions within
0:18:18 > 0:18:21the Christian church on these big issues,
0:18:21 > 0:18:25do you feel that there's a struggle for the soul of Christianity
0:18:25 > 0:18:28in Britain, where Christianity will go in the future?
0:18:28 > 0:18:33Well, I feel that, that...certain sections of society
0:18:33 > 0:18:37would love that struggle to exist and would love to highlight
0:18:37 > 0:18:44the differences, and I say to them, "The beauty of our faith is that we
0:18:44 > 0:18:49"can have differences about issues, but we agree about certain things."
0:18:49 > 0:18:53Let's just stay united about the foundations of our faith
0:18:53 > 0:18:58and let's focus on what we can do together,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00and let's respect each other's positions where we differ.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05But in truth, this is an issue that's already dividing
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Christians in this country.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10It's pulling the faith in two different directions,
0:19:10 > 0:19:14with both sides feeling compelled to make their case.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19I was raised in the Pentecostal movement,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23but I've shifted my ground on some of its conservative theology.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25I'm comfortable with a more liberal
0:19:25 > 0:19:29interpretation of what the Bible is saying for our society today,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32but I know Christians of all different churches
0:19:32 > 0:19:36who wouldn't agree. Some are even prepared to go to court
0:19:36 > 0:19:39to defend their personal convictions.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49The Christian Institute has a legal defence fund to help
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Christians in court because their religious beliefs have
0:19:52 > 0:19:54brought them into conflict with the law.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59A couple who run a hotel in Cornwall have been told they broke
0:19:59 > 0:20:02the law when they refused to let two gay men to share a room...
0:20:02 > 0:20:05The appeal hearing in the so-called "gay cake case"
0:20:05 > 0:20:07was halted this morning...
0:20:07 > 0:20:09The judge said that social attitudes in Britain had
0:20:09 > 0:20:13changed over the past 50 years and it was inevitable that laws
0:20:13 > 0:20:16would cut across some people's religious beliefs.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20I do feel that Christianity is being marginalised in Britain.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24The kind of cases that we've been involved with
0:20:24 > 0:20:28are major precedent-setting cases,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31which will have implications
0:20:31 > 0:20:37for years to come, where religious liberty is the primary issue...
0:20:37 > 0:20:42and where the ruling, in that particular case, will have wider
0:20:42 > 0:20:47consequences for the freedoms of Christians generally.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50One of the Institute's most recent cases has been helping to
0:20:50 > 0:20:55defend the McArthurs, who own Ashers Bakery in Northern Ireland.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59"Ashers does not discriminate against anyone..."
0:20:59 > 0:21:02The McArthurs refused to make a cake
0:21:02 > 0:21:05carrying the slogan "Support Gay Marriage".
0:21:05 > 0:21:09It was for a campaign to change the law in Northern Ireland.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12We took issue with the message on the cake and not the customer.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19We certainly felt that what it said was against what the Bible taught.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22This is my life, this isn't something
0:21:22 > 0:21:23I do at church.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25You know, if people think that's culturally
0:21:25 > 0:21:28irrelevant then that doesn't matter to me.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32What matters to me is that I live my life, as best as I can,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34in accordance to God's commands.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37The customer they turned away
0:21:37 > 0:21:40approached the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44It helped him to commence legal action against the McArthur
0:21:44 > 0:21:47family and Ashers Baking Company.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49The cake and the money isn't important,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52it's whether or not someone like Gareth can walk into a shop,
0:21:52 > 0:21:55or a hotel or a restaurant, and wonder, "Can I be served here
0:21:55 > 0:21:58"because they might have a different religious opinion than me?"
0:21:58 > 0:22:02The McArthurs lost the case and were found guilty of discrimination.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04They were ordered to pay damages.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06We've no regrets about what we've done.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08There is a marginalisation.
0:22:08 > 0:22:15There is an unhealthy scepticism about Christians,
0:22:15 > 0:22:16about aspects of Christian belief.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20It is not pro-Christian, it is anti-gay!
0:22:20 > 0:22:23This is not simply about some form of religious intolerance
0:22:23 > 0:22:25or a closing down of religious expression.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28This is about when you enter into the public domain,
0:22:28 > 0:22:30and you choose to trade as a commercial enterprise,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32you're ruled by the laws of the land.
0:22:32 > 0:22:38If we coerce the McArthur family into promoting a point of view which
0:22:38 > 0:22:43is completely opposite to their own, who else will get coerced?
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Will a Muslim printer be told
0:22:46 > 0:22:50that he has to print cartoons of Mohammed?
0:22:52 > 0:22:57I do think you are going to see more issues going to the courts to see,
0:22:57 > 0:23:03as it were, how different kinds of communities and different parts of
0:23:03 > 0:23:06our society are going to find new ways of living together,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08and that won't be easy, that's for sure.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12The McArthurs are continuing their battle
0:23:12 > 0:23:14and appealing the court decision.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17I don't think there should be
0:23:17 > 0:23:19a pick-and-mix approach to Christianity.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Don't be afraid to take your Christian stand
0:23:23 > 0:23:29because we've learned that God is with you, in all of it, and he
0:23:29 > 0:23:34gives you the grace to stand against these trials and these challenges.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39The way forward is...is not for the church to simply imitate
0:23:39 > 0:23:42the society around us.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45The way forward is for the church to be the church,
0:23:45 > 0:23:49to follow Christ, to follow the teachings of the Bible.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55When Christians with orthodox views speak out on social issues,
0:23:55 > 0:23:57it's problematic.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Society no longer speaks the same language.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02It doesn't understand the religious context
0:24:02 > 0:24:06and all it hears are prejudiced, outdated views.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07BELL RINGS
0:24:15 > 0:24:16For lots of young people,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Christianity is now morally objectionable.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22They don't want something to do with churches which don't
0:24:22 > 0:24:25believe in human rights and the equality of all human beings.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32If churches want to attract the next generation,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35some believe they have to become more tolerant.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41I went to a very high-class school in Buckinghamshire to
0:24:41 > 0:24:43preach at a confirmation.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47As I got into the pulpit, I heard him say - "There you are, Edward, I
0:24:47 > 0:24:53"told you it would be a ruddy bore. Even the bishop's got his iPad out."
0:24:53 > 0:24:54LAUGHTER
0:24:54 > 0:24:56So we'll see how we can do this afternoon!
0:24:57 > 0:25:02Bishop Alan Wilson is one of those urging a more tolerant future.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05'72% of Anglicans under 35
0:25:05 > 0:25:08'are in favour of gay marriage.'
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Well, in a culture like that,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13how long do we think we can keep this up?
0:25:13 > 0:25:17'I think that will become increasingly unsustainable.'
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, through your goodness
0:25:21 > 0:25:25we have this bread to set before you, which earth has given and human
0:25:25 > 0:25:30hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32'I think it is possible that'
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Christianity will become more sectarianised,
0:25:34 > 0:25:38more sort of balkanised into little groups of people who don't really
0:25:38 > 0:25:42understand one another but know what's wrong with everybody else.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45I think that would be a very sad future for Christianity.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48The tradition we have in the Church of England is of having
0:25:48 > 0:25:51all kinds of different views and faiths and passions
0:25:51 > 0:25:56being dealt with on a basis of justice and love and equality,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and I would hope that we can stay with that
0:25:59 > 0:26:00and be that kind of a church.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07But it's not only on social issues that the church has found itself
0:26:07 > 0:26:09clashing with society.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16The Church of England says it's bewildered by a decision
0:26:16 > 0:26:19by leading cinemas not to screen a Christmas advert featuring
0:26:19 > 0:26:21the Lord's Prayer.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23# Give us this day... #
0:26:25 > 0:26:27..our daily bread...
0:26:27 > 0:26:30..forgive us our trespasses...
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Last year, the company responsible for showing cinema ads
0:26:33 > 0:26:36refused to show this Lord's Prayer film.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38..but deliver us from evil...
0:26:38 > 0:26:41..for thine is the kingdom...
0:26:41 > 0:26:43..the power and the glory...
0:26:43 > 0:26:48The company has a long-standing policy of not accepting
0:26:48 > 0:26:51political or religious advertising.
0:26:51 > 0:26:52- Amen.- Amen.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57News of the decision sparked a national debate.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01I think the furore around the Church of England prayer advert
0:27:01 > 0:27:03was really interesting.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07It showed that there was a lot stronger support for
0:27:07 > 0:27:09the Church of England as a public church
0:27:09 > 0:27:11than we perhaps thought there was.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14I found the reaction to the ban intriguing.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17No-one seemed sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20It's just emphasising the idea of praying, in general,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23it doesn't actually have to be for Christianity,
0:27:23 > 0:27:25but it can be for different religions.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27There's a question mark on whether these religions
0:27:27 > 0:27:29should be allowed to promote at that level.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31For me, this is blatant salesmanship.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34At one level, it is blatant salesmanship,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38but obviously the more people that are engaged in religion the better.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41The Church of England misrepresented the situation.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44The advertisers concerned do not accept any political or any
0:27:44 > 0:27:46religious advertising of any sort.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50The British Humanist Association has been caught out by the same rule.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54The difference is we didn't try and manufacture a media story
0:27:54 > 0:27:57out of it, to try and get public sympathy on our side,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00because we're just not that desperate.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02I want to know what the head of the Church of England,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05the Archbishop of Canterbury, made of the fuss.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Regarding the Lord's Prayer advert,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14was that a bit of clever politicking by the Church
0:28:14 > 0:28:19to get a response because bans are good for business sometimes?
0:28:19 > 0:28:21I wish we were that clever!
0:28:21 > 0:28:24No, it wasn't. No, it was...the first
0:28:24 > 0:28:27I heard of it was someone rang me up and said they've...
0:28:27 > 0:28:30the cinemas have said they can't show it.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33And I was slightly baffled by it, really.
0:28:33 > 0:28:34It's not controversial,
0:28:34 > 0:28:38it's not condemning people, so it was slightly baffling
0:28:38 > 0:28:40and odd that they should feel it was worth banning.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42In one newspaper I read,
0:28:42 > 0:28:47where you said that you thought Britain was becoming anti-Christian,
0:28:47 > 0:28:51or is it just a case that the church has moved more to the right?
0:28:51 > 0:28:52More conservative?
0:28:52 > 0:28:55I don't remember myself saying that the church should be
0:28:55 > 0:28:59anti-Christian, I think the press may have put that in.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02I don't think the church has moved particularly to the right,
0:29:02 > 0:29:05or to the left. I think that's...
0:29:05 > 0:29:08I think that's a false way of looking at it.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10The church is neither right nor left.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13It identifies with the Kingdom of God,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16which is both right and left...
0:29:16 > 0:29:20in different ways, and doesn't really fit on a political spectrum.
0:29:20 > 0:29:25Despite that, there is a well-documented tension between
0:29:25 > 0:29:30where the church is, in terms of its ethics and its concerns,
0:29:30 > 0:29:31and where society is.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35Church, at its best, is in constant engagement with society
0:29:35 > 0:29:38and listening very carefully.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40We are, within the church,
0:29:40 > 0:29:43learning to listen better to one another
0:29:43 > 0:29:47and to discern what the right way forward is.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49We're not a political party, we're a family.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52And if part of the family is struggling,
0:29:52 > 0:29:55then you want to encourage that part of the family.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57I like the family analogy.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Is it sometimes a family at war?
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Oh, it's a family that bickers like crazy.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06Some argue through sulking quietly in different rooms,
0:30:06 > 0:30:10and others go out in the back yard and shout at each other.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13Anglicans tend to be more like the latter, if I'm really honest.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Um...but...
0:30:16 > 0:30:19the work of the spirit of God is to bring renewal and revival,
0:30:19 > 0:30:23among many others things, in each part of the church,
0:30:23 > 0:30:28and, if we're obedient, we seek to enable each part of the church
0:30:28 > 0:30:31to flourish, as you do in a family.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36I hope the Archbishop can hold his church family together
0:30:36 > 0:30:39as it tries to work out the right way to move forward.
0:30:39 > 0:30:44Now, more than ever, in our diverse nation, we need a broad church.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52Perhaps the biggest struggle
0:30:52 > 0:30:55facing most churches is how to fill the empty pews.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Some take a bold approach.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06If the pews have been deserted by older people,
0:31:06 > 0:31:10should the focus now be on the up-and-coming generation?
0:31:15 > 0:31:20Hillsong UK has been attracting a younger crowd since 1999.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23To get its message across, it invests in technology
0:31:23 > 0:31:27and approaches that speak to young people.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30So we're here, at our warehouse in south-east London.
0:31:30 > 0:31:31South-east London, mate.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Dan Blythe is the youth and young adult pastor.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38This is our Bermondsey, south Bermondsey campus,
0:31:38 > 0:31:42it's one of five campuses and this is just the stage, pretty basic,
0:31:42 > 0:31:45but all of these lights are just getting
0:31:45 > 0:31:49ready for the Fearless presentation, just working out different settings
0:31:49 > 0:31:51and programming, all that technical stuff,
0:31:51 > 0:31:52which I don't have a clue about.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- Hello. Welcome to Fearless. My name's Dan.- My name's Charlie.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00This show comes right out of the youth and young adult ministry
0:32:00 > 0:32:02of the Hillsong Church, London.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09Dan is responsible for a new project called Fearless Generation.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13It aims to inspire young Christians to conquer their fears
0:32:13 > 0:32:14and lead successful lives.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19For our young people who have this serious fear of failure,
0:32:19 > 0:32:22fearing that they're going to fail at school, fail their friends,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25fail their parents, I just thought, "Well, let's start
0:32:25 > 0:32:28"talking about this, show what the Bible has to say about it."
0:32:28 > 0:32:31And so, from that, we got asked to start a TV show.
0:32:33 > 0:32:34But we called that Fearless,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37and then we called the clothing label Fearless,
0:32:37 > 0:32:39and then we've been asked to do a radio show now,
0:32:39 > 0:32:41which we're calling Fearless as well.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44But we want to encourage them to be part of a fearless generation,
0:32:44 > 0:32:46where, every day, no matter what they fear,
0:32:46 > 0:32:49they actually can put their faith in God and overcome that fear.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Dan and his team are putting together
0:32:53 > 0:32:55a presentation for Hillsong leaders.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02It's more of a live concert than PowerPoint, featuring dancers,
0:33:02 > 0:33:04smoke machines and lasers.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06Look, we're just giving it to you, Lord God.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08As we step into rehearsals, Lord God, we're not
0:33:08 > 0:33:10stressing about a track issue, Lord,
0:33:10 > 0:33:12we're not stressing about a styling issue,
0:33:12 > 0:33:14we're not stressing about the fact we've not sung this
0:33:14 > 0:33:17song for a few months or not danced these steps before, Lord.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20And so we come before you, Lord, with praise, Lord, with Thanksgiving.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22And we give it all to you in the name of Jesus.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23- Amen.- Amen.
0:33:23 > 0:33:24Sweet.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26..fear no evil.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Faith allows us to fear God,
0:33:28 > 0:33:30be in awe of his might...
0:33:30 > 0:33:34It will eventually be performed for young adults in prisons and schools.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37..true faith in our God will always overpower fears,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39doubts and insecurities...
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Dan believes that presenting God's message in an accessible way
0:33:42 > 0:33:45for young people is key to the future of the faith.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47We stand bold, we stand courageous,
0:33:47 > 0:33:51we stand victorious, a fearless generation,
0:33:51 > 0:33:54If you were actually to ask me, "Why do some churches grow
0:33:54 > 0:33:57"and some churches not grow?" I'd purely just put it down to whether
0:33:57 > 0:34:01we can communicate this gospel of grace in an effective way that young
0:34:01 > 0:34:04people, or anyone who's listening, can actually understand it.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13I guess, for me, being slightly older now,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16and as the older generation in our church,
0:34:16 > 0:34:19our job is to make sure we remain sacrificial in style.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21So right now, sure I love this style,
0:34:21 > 0:34:24but in 30 years' time, 40 years' time,
0:34:24 > 0:34:27you know, when I'm grey and rocking around, whatever,
0:34:27 > 0:34:31will I then be open to whatever the young people do then?
0:34:32 > 0:34:35It might not be my preference, but will I be willing to
0:34:35 > 0:34:38do that so that the next generation can hear a message of grace?
0:34:38 > 0:34:40I'd say, yeah, hopefully, because that's what it's all about,
0:34:40 > 0:34:43innovating the method not the message.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45# ..my saviour... #
0:34:47 > 0:34:50A lot of the churches like Hillsong will appeal more to
0:34:50 > 0:34:54young people at a certain stage of life and energy, and dating,
0:34:54 > 0:34:56and it fits with where they are.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58It certainly doesn't mean they're the future of
0:34:58 > 0:35:01where everything else is going to go.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09# ..we are here for you... #
0:35:10 > 0:35:13But it's not only Hillsong that's offering
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Christianity in a more contemporary setting.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20To counter the declining numbers, the Church of England's
0:35:20 > 0:35:23got its own new strategy called church planting.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26# Almighty God of love
0:35:26 > 0:35:29# We welcome you in this place... #
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Latimer Minster is one such church plant.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36In the past three years, it's seen massive growth.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40We started with a small group of us in my sitting room
0:35:40 > 0:35:42about five years ago,
0:35:42 > 0:35:45then we got this farm in 2012.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47And there's about 400 people
0:35:47 > 0:35:50for whom this is their main church community now.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58Vicar Frog Orr-Ewing started the Minster on a run-down fruit farm.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02It's gradually being renovated to create a purpose-built
0:36:02 > 0:36:03missional community.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09There'll be housing for the clergy, worship spaces and a working farm.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15Our hope is that, over the next couple of years,
0:36:15 > 0:36:17we will be building a wooden barn
0:36:17 > 0:36:20and that will be our eventual home as a church.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23But in the meantime, we're meeting in the tent.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27This sermon is about finding sense in the world.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31We are now looking at Galatians chapter three.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37'There is no doubt that starting new churches'
0:36:37 > 0:36:38has been a crucial way
0:36:38 > 0:36:42in which churches have grown in the last 30 years.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44It's seen as a model that works,
0:36:44 > 0:36:47that can be sent out across the country,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50and that energises existing populations.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59Last year, the church appointed a new bishop with
0:36:59 > 0:37:02the job of supporting church planting.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05So what I want to do today is talk about -
0:37:05 > 0:37:09just the next half an hour - church size dynamics. So...
0:37:09 > 0:37:13Bishop Ric Thorpe runs courses for would-be church planters to
0:37:13 > 0:37:17learn how to make their new churches more appealing.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20..great sense of worship, of ministry,
0:37:20 > 0:37:24you can go out and do social transformation and so on.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27There is definitely a new movement of people who
0:37:27 > 0:37:30are saying, "Actually, how can we do things
0:37:30 > 0:37:32"in a culturally relevant way?"
0:37:38 > 0:37:42We are seeing a lot of younger people loving a more
0:37:42 > 0:37:46contemporary style of music, loving that relevant preaching and so on.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49I think I wouldn't say at the detriment of other styles
0:37:49 > 0:37:51that are different, but clearly that is making a difference.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55THEY SING
0:37:57 > 0:37:59We love this place.
0:37:59 > 0:38:00I think, when we first arrived,
0:38:00 > 0:38:04we'd never felt more welcomed in any church, in any kind of community.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07# ..you are holy... #
0:38:08 > 0:38:11It's quite difficult to put into words.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12It's just you feel it.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17You can just get lost and just enjoy the Lord's presence.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24Everyone's looking for purpose and meaning, but when you come
0:38:24 > 0:38:28here you feel like you get that meaning with, like, a capital M.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30# ..you've been saved through the ages... #
0:38:30 > 0:38:35But not everyone is convinced by this apparent religious revival.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37Some are worried that the intensity of worship
0:38:37 > 0:38:40can actually put people off.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43The more kind of noisy and trumpeted the revivals have got
0:38:43 > 0:38:47since the '50s, the more Christianity has fallen.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Most people don't want enthusiastic religion.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52Most people want to go about their ordinary lives
0:38:52 > 0:38:55and they want religion as a framework, as a support,
0:38:55 > 0:38:56something that they can turn to,
0:38:56 > 0:38:58something that gives them orientation,
0:38:58 > 0:39:00but it's not their primary identity.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03And they're actually quite frightened of really
0:39:03 > 0:39:04enthusiastic religion.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06It seems a bit crazy, to them.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09I don't think there is any sense in which church planting can be
0:39:09 > 0:39:11said to be reversing church decline,
0:39:11 > 0:39:14but there is a correlation between church plants being often
0:39:14 > 0:39:16the ones that are still growing.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25There is more to these churches than just lively worship.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Also key to their success is a programme of social action -
0:39:29 > 0:39:32finding ways to meet the needs of the local community.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44In London, there's a church that's shown how important
0:39:44 > 0:39:45social engagement can be.
0:39:46 > 0:39:51Members of Holy Trinity Brompton have helped to plant 29 new churches
0:39:51 > 0:39:53across London and beyond.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Its vicar is Nicky Gumbel.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02How important is social justice as part of the new move to
0:40:02 > 0:40:04engage with the wider world?
0:40:04 > 0:40:05I think young people
0:40:05 > 0:40:08are passionate about justice issues,
0:40:08 > 0:40:11you know, people are passionate about issues to do
0:40:11 > 0:40:16with trafficking and resisting that appalling trade
0:40:16 > 0:40:17that is going on at the moment.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19People are passionate about homelessness.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22They're passionate about the people who are at the very
0:40:22 > 0:40:25bottom of society, in the sense that they're in prison,
0:40:25 > 0:40:29and often people who...who've...who are really struggling with life.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33So what would you make of this comment that the nation has
0:40:33 > 0:40:35become more anti-Christian,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38is that something you find resonance with?
0:40:38 > 0:40:40I think it's kind of been rejected now by young people
0:40:40 > 0:40:42and I think they see the positive,
0:40:42 > 0:40:45they see the churches doing the homeless shelters,
0:40:45 > 0:40:49they see the churches are the ones who are volunteering
0:40:49 > 0:40:52in society, the ones who are wanting to make a difference, the ones who
0:40:52 > 0:40:55are meeting the offenders when they come out of prison
0:40:55 > 0:40:57and looking after them, and caring for them,
0:40:57 > 0:40:59and I think they're very attracted by that.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08To find out more, I'm visiting Birmingham.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11And hopefully there'll be lots of time for you to say hello to
0:41:11 > 0:41:14people and meet some new people, so you're very, very welcome.
0:41:14 > 0:41:15We're excited you're here
0:41:15 > 0:41:18and we're excited for what God's going to do tonight here.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20OK, so we're going to worship together.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24I'll pray and then Josh is going to lead us in our worship.
0:41:24 > 0:41:25THEY ALL SING
0:41:30 > 0:41:33Last year, Tim Hughes and his wife Rachel
0:41:33 > 0:41:36came here from Holy Trinity Brompton.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Working with the Diocese of Birmingham,
0:41:39 > 0:41:41they've set up a new church plant.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50We want to make a difference in this amazing city of Birmingham
0:41:50 > 0:41:51and people are excited about that,
0:41:51 > 0:41:54that's attractive for people to be a part of.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00The new church is just round the corner from Broad Street -
0:42:00 > 0:42:02the hub of the city's nightlife.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14So Tim is spending a night with the Christian City Pastors,
0:42:14 > 0:42:18who lend a hand to its night-time crowds.
0:42:18 > 0:42:19City Pastors is a project
0:42:19 > 0:42:22that's been running for about five years now,
0:42:22 > 0:42:24set up as a voluntary project,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26comprised of volunteers, 58 of them,
0:42:26 > 0:42:29from 16 churches across Birmingham.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Tim is looking to see how members of his church
0:42:33 > 0:42:35could help this city centre ministry.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40For us, as a church at Gas Street,
0:42:40 > 0:42:44the whole thing is about encouraging young people
0:42:44 > 0:42:46in our congregation to be confident about who they are
0:42:46 > 0:42:48in their faith and the mission.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51You know, our mission and our calling as Christians is to be good
0:42:51 > 0:42:55news and so things like City Pastors are amazing.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57That's what I see them doing, just bringing hope, life,
0:42:57 > 0:43:00safety and a caring presence.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03Particularly as people get intoxicated, if you have maybe
0:43:03 > 0:43:06groups of girls that have come out together, they get separated
0:43:06 > 0:43:10inside a club and we find somebody on their own just sitting there.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12What do you do then?
0:43:12 > 0:43:14Well, we're obviously looking out,
0:43:14 > 0:43:16we're constantly looking out for those kinds of people,
0:43:16 > 0:43:19anybody that's in a vulnerable situation at all.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21We're here to be Jesus' hands
0:43:21 > 0:43:23and feet on the street and to care for people.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30Before long, the City Pastors are called into action to help
0:43:30 > 0:43:33a woman who has had one too many.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37Do you want to try and get a taxi home
0:43:37 > 0:43:39or have you got some money to get home?
0:43:41 > 0:43:44Well, the police came up and they just noticed this lady maybe
0:43:44 > 0:43:49looking a bit intoxicated, and asked Mark and Jo to have a chat.
0:43:51 > 0:43:56At the end of the day, she didn't want to go into a taxi,
0:43:56 > 0:43:59so she has walked off, but we have informed police camera
0:43:59 > 0:44:03and given a description, so police cameras around the city can
0:44:03 > 0:44:05keep an eye on her if she walks around.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08So at least that gives us peace of mind,
0:44:08 > 0:44:09within certain boundaries,
0:44:09 > 0:44:12that someone will be keeping an eye on her.
0:44:17 > 0:44:20Tim hears how the presence of the City Pastors is
0:44:20 > 0:44:24welcomed by the night-time revellers.
0:44:24 > 0:44:28I really do think, from my personal point of view, it's a good thing
0:44:28 > 0:44:34because...every now and again, there's people like myself
0:44:34 > 0:44:39that have a little bit too much to drink,
0:44:39 > 0:44:42and it's good to have people that think, "Let's get you home."
0:44:47 > 0:44:49The thought of getting Gas Street
0:44:49 > 0:44:51and all our congregation and different people involved
0:44:51 > 0:44:55in that, I think, can be really, really exciting moving forward.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58Community action is a good way for a church to
0:44:58 > 0:45:01demonstrate its Christian compassion,
0:45:01 > 0:45:05so it's not just new churches that want to get involved.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09The wonderful thing about it is it's, on the whole,
0:45:09 > 0:45:12not been centrally organised.
0:45:12 > 0:45:16It's been at the local level, in parishes, in chaplaincies,
0:45:16 > 0:45:17all round the country,
0:45:17 > 0:45:21people saying, "We need to get together and do something."
0:45:21 > 0:45:23It's the overflow of God's love.
0:45:29 > 0:45:33In Bolton, Dave Bagley is the founder of Urban Outreach.
0:45:33 > 0:45:37It's a Christian organisation that brings together churches with
0:45:37 > 0:45:40local businesses and volunteers.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49Over 25 years, he's developed a thriving business that helps
0:45:49 > 0:45:51thousands of people every year.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58In the last couple of months, Dave's begun a new project
0:45:58 > 0:46:02in a local church, called The Storehouse Pantry.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05It's a different kind of cooperative food bank.
0:46:06 > 0:46:10We're on our way now to drop off the food that we've collected
0:46:10 > 0:46:11from the warehouse...
0:46:11 > 0:46:15take it up to The Hope Centre, Johnson Fold.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18It's what would have been a council estate.
0:46:20 > 0:46:24It is in the top 1% areas of deprivation in Bolton and so it's
0:46:24 > 0:46:28kind of a place where there aren't so many people dreaming big dreams.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37We need to do it before it rains again.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39- No guarantee.- Not really, no.
0:46:47 > 0:46:51In here...is the pantry.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54Here we have Steve, he goes to part of St Peter's...
0:46:54 > 0:46:56getting ready for it opening.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58- Morning.- Morning.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01In a normal food bank, there will be
0:47:01 > 0:47:02a specific allocation of food
0:47:02 > 0:47:06and it's all packaged up into a box or into bags.
0:47:06 > 0:47:10The difference with this project, as opposed to say a food bank,
0:47:10 > 0:47:13is that...there is choice.
0:47:13 > 0:47:16I've got two, is that all right? Mum and me.
0:47:16 > 0:47:20So, people become members, there's a membership fee,
0:47:20 > 0:47:25£2.50 a week, to cover the cost of fresh groceries that we buy,
0:47:25 > 0:47:29and then they make choices about the food they would like to take away.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33It's not just parcelled up and there it is, take it or leave it.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36That is absolutely gorgeous, really good stuff.
0:47:38 > 0:47:39It's a freedom of choice.
0:47:39 > 0:47:43They help themselves to items from the shelves, it's colour-coded.
0:47:43 > 0:47:48I think you get six yellow items, four red and five green.
0:47:48 > 0:47:53And they're allowed to come in and help themselves once a week.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55That's it. It really is that simple.
0:47:55 > 0:47:59I'm done, yeah. Now I need a weightlifter!
0:47:59 > 0:48:02The Storehouse Pantry is a joint venture between
0:48:02 > 0:48:05Urban Outreach, St Peter's Parish
0:48:05 > 0:48:08and Bolton at Home Housing Association.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11I've never really worked with a church so closely as I have
0:48:11 > 0:48:14on this project and people have their reservations,
0:48:14 > 0:48:16don't they, about working with churches?
0:48:16 > 0:48:19But I've found it really inspiring working on this project.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21A few times I've actually thought,
0:48:21 > 0:48:23"Ooh, I think I might be a Christian!"
0:48:23 > 0:48:25VOLUNTEERS CHEER
0:48:25 > 0:48:27I didn't know I was! I'm not saying
0:48:27 > 0:48:30I am, I'm not saying I am, but it makes you think about Christian
0:48:30 > 0:48:33values and how they are in my everyday life
0:48:33 > 0:48:35without me identifying them as such.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38Ravioli, it's Italian, isn't it?
0:48:38 > 0:48:41'If they come to church, that's great.'
0:48:41 > 0:48:43If they don't, that's fine as well.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47There's no ulterior motive in terms of getting them into church.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49We just want to be there for people.
0:48:49 > 0:48:51We want to be there for our community
0:48:51 > 0:48:53and show them the love of God.
0:48:53 > 0:48:56- Sugarsnap peas, it's gotta be. - What about parsnips?
0:48:56 > 0:48:58No, he's not keen on them.
0:48:58 > 0:49:01- He likes every other veg apart from parsnips.- Right, OK.
0:49:01 > 0:49:05I'm not Christian at all. I don't have any beliefs in anything.
0:49:05 > 0:49:08It's each to their own is my view, but...
0:49:08 > 0:49:13I just like coming because it's just friendly people.
0:49:13 > 0:49:18Friendly and lovely people - that's why we come. We love it.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22Some of the people who are coming to the pantry would have never have
0:49:22 > 0:49:24come to the church, but the door should be open.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27If you're a church, surely you want people to come and learn
0:49:27 > 0:49:30about Christ, or whatever your messages are?
0:49:30 > 0:49:32But you have to have an open door to do that.
0:49:35 > 0:49:41I think that we are at a time in world history
0:49:41 > 0:49:45where Christianity has an enormous part to play.
0:49:46 > 0:49:50It doesn't need to get into the mud with politics, it needs to
0:49:50 > 0:49:55get into the front rooms of people who don't come out of those
0:49:55 > 0:49:58front rooms because life has just become too hard.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01They've been knocked down and knocked down.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04So I see that there is a pioneering
0:50:04 > 0:50:08opportunity for the church because there's a group of people
0:50:08 > 0:50:10we can touch and help and assist,
0:50:10 > 0:50:13and I don't think we have even begun.
0:50:23 > 0:50:27For me, social Christianity is where the church is at its most
0:50:27 > 0:50:29vibrant and brilliant.
0:50:29 > 0:50:33It's not just about believing, but about doing.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36But I also think it's the job of Christians to go further -
0:50:36 > 0:50:40to ask radical questions about what's causing problems,
0:50:40 > 0:50:45to ask society how it got itself in this position in the first place.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51Rather than wait for the church to act, a growing number
0:50:51 > 0:50:55of Christians are choosing to take matters into their own hands.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58They're not afraid to mix up their religion with politics,
0:50:58 > 0:51:01tackling some controversial subjects.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06Here's one I prepared earlier.
0:51:06 > 0:51:10One such Christian is Marksteen Adamson.
0:51:10 > 0:51:14He's spent the past few months photographing refugees
0:51:14 > 0:51:16in the UK and abroad.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21I want you to grab the barbed wire just around your head
0:51:21 > 0:51:24and squeeze it together, like, take three of them
0:51:24 > 0:51:26and squeeze them together, and then just lean them
0:51:26 > 0:51:28- up against your forehand. - The same as...
0:51:28 > 0:51:31Yeah, so like a...like a crown of thorns.
0:51:32 > 0:51:35So, Hekmat, if you come and stand on the other side, over here.
0:51:35 > 0:51:40He's creating a modern version of the Stations of the Cross -
0:51:40 > 0:51:44a traditional way for Christians to mark the Easter story.
0:51:44 > 0:51:47So, if you hold those three, yeah.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54Yeah, that's it.
0:51:54 > 0:51:55Perfect.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58Marksteen wants to use his photos to raise
0:51:58 > 0:52:02awareness of the suffering of refugees.
0:52:03 > 0:52:06'I feel proud of being a refugee.'
0:52:06 > 0:52:08Some people feel ashamed.
0:52:08 > 0:52:09It's not a shame.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13It happens all over the world because of war.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15OK, look over my head.
0:52:16 > 0:52:21The barbed wire for me represents the situation that Hekmat is
0:52:21 > 0:52:24still in, which is that he's still waiting for his wife
0:52:24 > 0:52:27and son to come over. You know, his journey is not over yet.
0:52:27 > 0:52:29He might be in the UK but it's not over yet.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33And the thing about Hekmat's face is that he's got real hope in his face.
0:52:33 > 0:52:37He's very optimistic. He's a very optimistic chappy, anyway.
0:52:40 > 0:52:44Marksteen is the creative director of a company that devises
0:52:44 > 0:52:47brand strategy for global businesses.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50- We've got the stations and on one side we've got the cross.- Yeah.
0:52:50 > 0:52:52At his Cheltenham headquarters,
0:52:52 > 0:52:55he's meeting with the editor of a Christian magazine.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01There's something about the innocence of the kiss in this one...
0:53:01 > 0:53:04- Yeah.- ..which is a counterpoint to the fact
0:53:04 > 0:53:06the kiss was used for a betrayal.
0:53:06 > 0:53:08The photos are going to be shown
0:53:08 > 0:53:10in the magazine's Easter edition.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14Taking that suffering that Jesus experienced
0:53:14 > 0:53:17and sort of broadening it out and showing how it's reflected
0:53:17 > 0:53:19in everybody's suffering, whatever their race,
0:53:19 > 0:53:21religion or background,
0:53:21 > 0:53:25is a way of showing how that story is relevant to us all today.
0:53:30 > 0:53:35To reach a wider audience, there will also be an exhibition
0:53:35 > 0:53:37and billboard adverts in London.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40- A lot of glue. - HE LAUGHS
0:53:40 > 0:53:42For this modern Stations of the Cross,
0:53:42 > 0:53:46Marksteen's chosen a site close to the underground station.
0:53:49 > 0:53:53I think it's important that it's out in the public because I don't
0:53:53 > 0:53:57want it to be seen as a church project or an institution project.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59This is about the people getting together
0:53:59 > 0:54:01and doing something special,
0:54:01 > 0:54:03so it has to belong to the people,
0:54:03 > 0:54:05which is why it's going to be outdoors.
0:54:05 > 0:54:07I really like the way that you're tidying up the edges!
0:54:07 > 0:54:09I'm only doing it because you're here.
0:54:09 > 0:54:12- If you weren't here...- You'd be slapping it on, wouldn't you?
0:54:12 > 0:54:15HE LAUGHS
0:54:15 > 0:54:19Hopefully, this will start to open people's eyes to how we can
0:54:19 > 0:54:21help and how we can make a difference.
0:54:25 > 0:54:29Well, I just would say he's in trouble of some kind.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33It's a provoking poster. Trying to get a debate.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36I dunno, it reminded me of Jesus for a minute
0:54:36 > 0:54:38because of the barbed wire...
0:54:38 > 0:54:42Thanks, buddy. I really appreciate it. It looks really good.
0:54:42 > 0:54:44He has got glue on his hands.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47Church activity shouldn't be in church.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50It should be out of church, in the community,
0:54:50 > 0:54:51and it's the right thing to do.
0:54:51 > 0:54:53Being cosy, inside a church,
0:54:53 > 0:54:57and being quite inward is the wrong thing to do.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00And this is definitely one way of getting something out there
0:55:00 > 0:55:02that people can connect with and understand,
0:55:02 > 0:55:04regardless of their faith.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09I think Christianity is radical
0:55:09 > 0:55:12and it should be political as well, sometimes.
0:55:12 > 0:55:16Um... I think, for too long, the church has been seen,
0:55:16 > 0:55:17and sometimes acted,
0:55:17 > 0:55:21as an institution which meets for an hour on a Sunday
0:55:21 > 0:55:24and you don't really hear or see of in the rest of the week,
0:55:24 > 0:55:27but I don't think that's what the church was ever intended to be.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34Most agree that the Christianity many of us grew up with
0:55:34 > 0:55:36in this country is disappearing.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39Of course, the churches will still continue their decline,
0:55:39 > 0:55:41but it's not the end of the story
0:55:41 > 0:55:44and there is still a lot more that could be done.
0:55:44 > 0:55:48New expressions of faith are replacing old traditions.
0:55:48 > 0:55:52There is a renewed spirit of hope,
0:55:52 > 0:55:57not in our own abilities, but in the work and presence of God among us.
0:55:58 > 0:56:02After all I've seen, I'm optimistic about the future.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05For 2,000 years, Christianity has survived
0:56:05 > 0:56:08and adapted to its changing surroundings
0:56:08 > 0:56:10and that's what's happening again, right now.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16I think the phrase "a quiet revolution" is a very good way
0:56:16 > 0:56:18of describing British Christianity.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23The Christianity that's emerging is more diverse.
0:56:23 > 0:56:27There are Christians who are liberal and others who are not.
0:56:27 > 0:56:31HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:56:31 > 0:56:33Christians from overseas...
0:56:33 > 0:56:35APPLAUSE
0:56:35 > 0:56:37..joining Christians closer to home.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39I think it's going to be harder to define,
0:56:39 > 0:56:43it will be more diverse, and perhaps it's going to be more interesting.
0:56:43 > 0:56:45I believe we're going to see and hear a lot more
0:56:45 > 0:56:50about Christianity than we have done in Britain for quite some time.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53If you thought you could ignore the faith, and its believers,
0:56:53 > 0:56:55those days are probably long gone.