‘DO NOT ask for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee!!’ TONY CAMPOLO – one of the most popular of Christian speakers and writers, on both sides of the Atlantic – was in the country recently and gave a ringing endorsement to LOVE SOUTHEND!
I caught up with Tony at the Greenbelt Wing And A Prayer weekend, at High Leighs Christian Conference Centre. He looked tired, having been in the country since the Tuesday – where he’d been speaking and running workshops at an ecumenical youthleaders conference – before staying on at the same venue, as a speaker at the Greenbelt event which followed.
Although he’d been on-the-go throughout the whole time, he was still happy to talk, and I half-chatted, half-interviewed him on the Friday evening, before doing so again the following day.
In between, he gave a lengthy guest talk which was typical Campolo: witty, informative and entertaining…and extremely challenging, disquieting and contentious. It was the usual, powerful stuff from the former Spiritual Advisor to Bill Clinton – he made claims that both liberals and evangelicals in the audience, in turn, would’ve strongly disagreed with; he told stories and came up with arguments that related to other people who live miles away, and yet succeeded in making you think seriously, yet again, about the quality of your own Christian lifestyle and about your own ‘walk’ with God. Tony Campolo is not an easy ride, nor an easy listen.
He was to get free ride himself, the next day though – at 6.45am on a dark, Hertforshire morning, as we took him the fifty-odd miles to Milton Keynes Central station, to help him catch the 8.12 Inter-City to Manchester Piccadilly; as he was getting a flight from Manchester International back to the States. They say that you should never meet your heroes, as they always disappoint…well, I climbed into the back of a Peugeot Independence with one of mine, and as he ate his breakfast of Cheerios, we talked some more about LOVE SOUTHEND.
“You know, St. Francis Of Assissi once said, “We should preach the gospel all the time and sometimes we should use words…”, and this is an attempt to speak words now-and-again, but to primarily show to the people of this [Southend] community that YOU care, and that you want to see God’s Will done on earth, as it is in heaven. You want to see the place cleaned up, fixed up.
“You want people who are marginal, to be treated like kings and queens. You want to be part of an effort to say, “Hey, you [the community] may have some bad visions and images of what Christianity is about – we’re here to change that vision, we’re here to change that image…” Now, if YOU want to be a part of something like that – or, if you want to just stay at home and be boring, that’s up to you – I encourage you to come and participate in this incredible programme.”
Tony expressed a keen desire, for as many young Christians as possible, get involved with LOVE SOUTHEND – but of course, the initiatives are for anyone who wants to be a part of them…young and old, rich and poor, black and white…there’s a part to play for everyone, whoever they are, and whatever talents and resources they bring with them.
I asked Tony, who has vast experience of many similar projects, what we should say when people ask why we (and LOVE SOUTHEND) are doing initiatives such Street Pastors and the urban regeneration works.
“I think you should say, “…because I want this part of the world to be better than it was a week ago, and the reason why I want that to happen, is because I believe in a God who wants to improve the world – and I want to participate in that effort”.”
We talked of other things, including his own heroes such as R.T Kendall and surprisingly perhaps, Hilary Clinton…oh, and for those who know about these things, Agnes has changed her career, and now works in the same cafe as that in which she first encountered Tony Campolo, some fifteen or so years ago…
For more information, please read Tony’s profile in the Media section of this website. Tony Campolo comes to LOVE SOUTHEND between 15-17 July, please keep checking for more details. Be warned – you may find a lot of what he says, uncomfortable.
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