0:00:02 > 0:00:04CHICKS CHEEP
0:00:04 > 0:00:08Believe it or not, this week sees the start of spring.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11And we've got some lovely Christian stories of new beginnings,
0:00:11 > 0:00:16as well as meeting some of the baby animals here on a farm in Derby.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19So cute! Welcome to Songs Of Praise.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46This week, I'm seeing new beginnings on a Christian-run farm
0:00:46 > 0:00:48that's changing lives.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50We try not to be religious,
0:00:50 > 0:00:54but I believe that being a Christian is about loving people.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57JB Gill meets a couple on a church-run marriage course
0:00:57 > 0:01:00as they begin their new life together.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I had to teach her to load the dishwasher.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04THEY LAUGH
0:01:04 > 0:01:06He actually did!
0:01:06 > 0:01:10And we reflect on the life and work of evangelist Billy Graham,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12who died last month.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Our hymns are from across the UK,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25including one to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28There's plenty of traditional music to come.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30But we begin with a modern song
0:01:30 > 0:01:33that celebrates the new life Jesus brings.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38# Sing!
0:01:53 > 0:01:55# Whoa-oh!
0:01:59 > 0:02:01# Do-do-do-do-do
0:02:07 > 0:02:09# Oh-oh
0:02:14 > 0:02:15# Sing!
0:02:40 > 0:02:42# Do-do-do-do-do
0:02:55 > 0:02:56# Sing!
0:03:14 > 0:03:15# And if our God!
0:03:41 > 0:03:42# Our God is greater, sing!
0:04:00 > 0:04:04# Oh-oh-oh! #
0:04:04 > 0:04:06APPLAUSE
0:04:12 > 0:04:16One place to find new beginnings is here at Highfields Happy Hens,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19a farm near Derby that's home to thousands
0:04:19 > 0:04:22of free-range chickens reared for eggs,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24some pygmy goats and newborn lambs.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27It's run by Christians Beryl and Roger.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31So we get about 12,000 eggs a day.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35And we're sort of labour intensive, so it's all manual collections.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39The farm is also a training ground for local young people
0:04:39 > 0:04:41who've needed a fresh start in life.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44And it's this which truly motivates Roger.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49Everything around here is about creating jobs
0:04:49 > 0:04:54that can make people feel good, really. About themselves.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56When they first come they can be very quiet,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58no confidence whatsoever.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01But, after a few weeks, they start coming out of their shell.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02All their anger goes.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05- Coming out of their shell - no pun intended!- No!
0:05:05 > 0:05:06THEY LAUGH
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Sorry about that!
0:05:11 > 0:05:16Young people James and Chelsea have both benefited from working here.
0:05:16 > 0:05:17So, James, tell me -
0:05:17 > 0:05:20what opportunities does being here on the farm give you?
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Well, it's given me a chance to interact with new people
0:05:23 > 0:05:27and I love all the animals. I've loved animals all my life, really.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30It's just made me grow as a person.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Made me more into a man, rather than a teenager.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Just given me loads of opportunities, really.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Chelsea, how have you changed as a person since you came to work here?
0:05:39 > 0:05:44I remember, when I first came here, I was very anxious and dead shy.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47I like seeing new animals born,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I like doing all the treatments for the animals.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52I just generally love caring for the animals.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Roger and Beryl are just great employers.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01And just give everyone a second chance in life.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03If you've not had a good life,
0:06:03 > 0:06:05you've always got that second chance.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Roger, why do this? Cos it's a lot of work, isn't it?
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Why on earth are you putting yourself through all this?
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Basically, my mum left home when I was five
0:06:15 > 0:06:21and I turned into a very angry, aggressive, nasty young person.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25And I went to boarding... had to go to boarding school.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28And I've got a letter from my then headmaster
0:06:28 > 0:06:33that said, "Society needs to be protected from people like Roger."
0:06:33 > 0:06:35I wasn't a bad kid.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36I was an angry kid.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38I was a hurting kid.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40So you see something of yourself
0:06:40 > 0:06:42- reflected in some of these young people?- Well, yeah.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45I mean, later on in life, I became a Christian.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49And there was no question in my mind
0:06:49 > 0:06:54that I wanted to spend the rest of my life working with young people.
0:06:54 > 0:06:55Come on, boy!
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Most young people want to learn
0:06:59 > 0:07:01but they need to be in the right environment.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04We try not to be religious,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08but I believe that being a Christian is about loving people.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11CHICKS CHEEP
0:07:11 > 0:07:17I've never lost the mystery of what goes on in birth of any sort -
0:07:17 > 0:07:20planting a field of corn and watching it come up,
0:07:20 > 0:07:21seeing a lamb born.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24And seeing a young person's life change,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27that really is... that's special.
0:07:31 > 0:07:37# All creatures of our god and king... #
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Not far from this farm is the city of Derby.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12Now, like many English cities,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16it was once home to a thriving Methodist Mission building.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18That's now closed but a new, exciting,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22fresh expression of church is emerging in its place.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28On a brand-new estate, the Methodists have bought a modern house
0:10:28 > 0:10:31to replace their ageing church building.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Instead of formal church services, they'll use it for local activities
0:10:34 > 0:10:37like community lunches and Bible studies.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Leading this new programme of events
0:10:40 > 0:10:43is Ali Stacey-Chapman, whose first task is to befriend
0:10:43 > 0:10:46the residents of this inner city community.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48I'm a pioneer missioner,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52which is a very churchy term for a not-at-all-churchy job.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56And the pioneering is about doing things differently,
0:10:56 > 0:10:57going in, trying things new.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58THEY LAUGH
0:11:00 > 0:11:02It's literally as fresh as it comes!
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- VOICEOVER:- One of the great things about this job
0:11:04 > 0:11:07is that I live next door, so I've worked out it's about ten paces.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09So no excuses for being late for work!
0:11:10 > 0:11:11The project may be new,
0:11:11 > 0:11:15but it's inspired by an historical figure, Susanna Wesley,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18mother of famous Methodists John and Charles.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21There's a lovely story about her that,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24at one point where her husband was away,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27he'd employed a useless curate to look after the church
0:11:27 > 0:11:30and Susanna Wesley didn't approve of the curate.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33So she started services in her kitchen.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37And I gather she had 200 people for these services.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40So she was pioneering, if you like,
0:11:40 > 0:11:44a new way of being a church in her time.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47And that's one thing we see ourselves doing here.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49THEY LAUGH
0:11:49 > 0:11:51It's exciting to be new somewhere,
0:11:51 > 0:11:56and it gives you the opportunity to rely on the local community,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58and that's just such a blessing.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02And it's a real joy to be able to live alongside people
0:12:02 > 0:12:07and to share life and to be a part of this community.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12I thought we would follow a bit of series for Lent.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16It's really early days here in the work but I love my job.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20I do feel like it's one of the best jobs in the world.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23We give you thanks for the story of this city.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25- Amen. - ALL:- Amen.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30We wish Ali well as she starts her new job.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Now, if you didn't already know, today is St Patrick's Day.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37So our next hymn on the theme of Christian dedication
0:12:37 > 0:12:41is from the famous poem known as St Patrick's Breastplate.
0:12:44 > 0:12:51# I bind unto myself today... #
0:14:36 > 0:14:39For four decades here on this Derbyshire farm,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43young people who have needed a fresh start for a variety of reasons
0:14:43 > 0:14:47have been offered a brand-new beginning by owners Roger and Beryl.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54But, at 75, Roger is well past retirement age.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57For the last decade, he's wanted to hand on the farm
0:14:57 > 0:15:00but hasn't found anyone who shares his Christian vision for it.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03That is, until now.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Paul and Amanda Munro, who've worked with homeless people in Derbyshire,
0:15:06 > 0:15:08have felt the call to work here
0:15:08 > 0:15:12and, in a leap of faith, are happy and able to start immediately.
0:15:14 > 0:15:20We would love to be able to just build on the foundations
0:15:20 > 0:15:23that Roger and Beryl have laid already, really.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27And just continue the work that they've started here,
0:15:27 > 0:15:34being able to just give hope and new opportunities to young people.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37We're just praying for more support that we can pick up the mantle,
0:15:37 > 0:15:42so to speak. And move forward with the same kind of work
0:15:42 > 0:15:44that Roger and Beryl have already achieved here.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47And in this season of Lent, you two must be spending
0:15:47 > 0:15:50a lot of time in prayer and reflection,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52cos this is a big decision.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Everything we do, we want God, really,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57to be involved in that decision-making process.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01If God's not involved in this, we're wasting our time, really.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03So, yeah, it's really important
0:16:03 > 0:16:05for us to sort of take that time of reflection.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Our next piece of music is nearly 400 years old
0:16:12 > 0:16:15and expresses those deep times of reflection
0:16:15 > 0:16:17that many Christians have during Lent.
0:16:19 > 0:16:27# Drop, drop slow tears
0:16:27 > 0:16:35# And bathe those beauteous feet
0:16:36 > 0:16:41# Which brought from heav'n
0:16:41 > 0:16:48# The news and prince of peace
0:16:51 > 0:16:59# Cease not, wet eyes
0:16:59 > 0:17:06# His mercies to entreat
0:17:08 > 0:17:14# To cry for vengeance
0:17:14 > 0:17:22# Sin doth never cease
0:17:25 > 0:17:33# In your deep floods
0:17:33 > 0:17:41# Drown all my faults and fears
0:17:42 > 0:17:50# Nor let his eye see sin
0:17:54 > 0:18:02# But through my tears. #
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Today we're celebrating new beginnings
0:18:16 > 0:18:19and one important start in life is marriage.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23JB Gill has been finding out how couples can prepare.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Anyone who's ever planned a wedding will tell you
0:18:27 > 0:18:29that there's just so much to organise.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31I mean, there's the outfits...
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Looking good!
0:18:34 > 0:18:35..the flowers...
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Ooh, lucky me!
0:18:38 > 0:18:40..and, of course, the cake.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44But a marriage is about so much more than just a wedding.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Many churches offer courses
0:18:46 > 0:18:50to help couples get ready for their new life together.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52The wide range includes the Marriage Preparation course
0:18:52 > 0:18:55designed at Holy Trinity Brompton in London,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58and now used in churches like this one in Bolton.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01It's been compared to a great tree growing right up
0:19:01 > 0:19:02through the centre of...
0:19:02 > 0:19:05The Marriage Preparation course is five practical sessions
0:19:05 > 0:19:08that cover everything from resolving conflict
0:19:08 > 0:19:10to keeping the love alive.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13It's for any couple.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16So whether they're engaged, or they're just exploring marriage,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19or whether they're a little bit older or little bit younger,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21it is for absolutely anyone.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Couples watch the five main sessions on video
0:19:25 > 0:19:28and then chat privately together.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Steve and Julie are soon to be married
0:19:30 > 0:19:32and are glad to be learning new skills
0:19:32 > 0:19:35like effective communication, handling finances,
0:19:35 > 0:19:37and dealing with family life.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I think like with anything in life, you want to be prepared.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44So if, you know, you want to be a doctor, you go to uni.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46If you want to, you know, do anything in life,
0:19:46 > 0:19:50you prepare for it. So why not go on a marriage course?
0:19:50 > 0:19:52What's your experience of marriage?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Well, I've actually been married before.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57And, unfortunately, it didn't work out.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59So this time, you know, I really wanted it to last,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02I wanted, you know, the foundation to be strong.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06And you know, my mum and dad stayed together, they're still together.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08And they've been my role models, really.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11And so, this time round, I want to be like them.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13I want it to last forever.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16But I think for us the spiritual aspect really comes into it.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18So, for example, things like prayer can come into it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21We've prayed on the back of certain things, you know,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23discussed certain things and then prayed into that.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25So I think it's been really beneficial.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28It's really deepened the spiritual connection between us as well.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honour...?
0:20:32 > 0:20:34After all the preparation,
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Steve and Julie celebrated their wedding at Kings Church in Bolton.
0:20:38 > 0:20:43And, a few weeks later, they've been reflecting on their big day.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46It was amazing. The bride was beautiful!
0:20:47 > 0:20:51And they've been putting what they learned on the course into practice.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55I was single for quite a long time before I met Stephen.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57So I've been used to living the single life, you know,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00so to come to live with somebody after all that time
0:21:00 > 0:21:02can be quite a challenge, you know.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04You know, we do things differently.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07I had to teach her to load the dishwasher!
0:21:07 > 0:21:08THEY LAUGH
0:21:08 > 0:21:10He actually did!
0:21:12 > 0:21:13I'm reminded of the scripture
0:21:13 > 0:21:17that says a three-corded strand isn't easily broken.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21And certainly as Christians that's the case with us.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23You know, we're putting God right at the centre
0:21:23 > 0:21:27and as we look forward, into the future,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31God is going to be with us every step of the way, guiding us.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- And creating a stronger marriage with us.- Yeah.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00One person who believed that anyone could have a new beginning
0:24:00 > 0:24:04through faith in Jesus was evangelist Billy Graham,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07who died just three weeks ago, aged 99.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13One of the most influential preachers of our time,
0:24:13 > 0:24:15the American evangelical Billy Graham
0:24:15 > 0:24:21shared the gospel with an estimated 210 million people.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25There is only one way that men can get to heaven. One road.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Jesus said it was a narrow road. He said the gate was narrow.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34And it's the cross. And I must come to his cross.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39It was in 1954 he first came to the UK
0:24:39 > 0:24:44and filled the Harringay Arena in London every night for three months.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48Thousands became Christians.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52In 1966, a young Cliff Richard used Billy Graham's Earls Court rallies
0:24:52 > 0:24:56to declare his faith in public for the first time.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00# It is no secret
0:25:00 > 0:25:05# What God can do... #
0:25:06 > 0:25:10In the 1980s, Billy Graham spoke at Mission England,
0:25:10 > 0:25:14in stadium events across the country.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17It's not easy to follow Christ in 1984.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22But he does promise his peace and his joy and his strength
0:25:22 > 0:25:25and his power and his love.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28And he promises you eternal life.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Such was his success, he met the great and the good across the world.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39But, right from the start, he never took personal credit for his work.
0:25:39 > 0:25:40I despise all this attention on me.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43I wish we could publicise the meetings in some way
0:25:43 > 0:25:45in which my name were not used.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48I'm not trying to bring people to myself.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Nor am I trying to interest people in me.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54But I know that God has sent me out as a warrior to preach the gospel.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58And I must continue until he gives the signal that I'm to stop.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Billy Graham himself was unafraid of death,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06considering it merely a change of address.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08I'm looking forward to death.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Because I want to go into that glorious new world
0:26:11 > 0:26:13that I believe everybody that knows Christ is going to go.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16And I'm going to have all the answers
0:26:16 > 0:26:19that now I would like to have answers to.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22For example, where did evil come from?
0:26:22 > 0:26:27Why does God allow evil to have such tremendous influence
0:26:27 > 0:26:28and power in our world?
0:26:28 > 0:26:32Why all the murders, why all the kidnappings and the sex crimes?
0:26:32 > 0:26:35And the wars?
0:26:35 > 0:26:37I'm not looking forward to dying.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41I'm looking forward to what happens at death,
0:26:41 > 0:26:43when I go into the presence of Christ.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48In the coming months, we hope to make a special programme
0:26:48 > 0:26:51about Billy Graham and we'd love to hear stories
0:26:51 > 0:26:54about his influence on your faith.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Details are all on the screen.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01And our next hymn, sung today in an American version,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04was one of his personal favourites,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06telling the Christian story of salvation.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13# And can it be... #
0:30:32 > 0:30:34That's almost it from Derbyshire.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37We've seen whether it's a local community, a farm,
0:30:37 > 0:30:39or even a couple getting married,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42everyone has a chance at a new beginning in life.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48Next week, for Palm Sunday, Sean Fletcher visit St Albans Cathedral,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51to learn about Britain's first Christian martyr.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56And Josie d'Arby samples the original Easter treat, the Alban bun.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59Well, this little one's almost asleep,
0:30:59 > 0:31:01but, before we go, the final hymn
0:31:01 > 0:31:05is all about the guiding hand of God through every season of life.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12# Be thou my vision... #