Quantum of Solace - licensed to chill
12 May 2009
Last year, the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace" had many people reaching for their dictionaries to find a definition for a word that was not exactly in widespread daily usage.
Well, the Oxford Dictionary defines 'solace' as: "comfort in distress or disappointment or tedium." And this is where Church Army enters the story! Two years ago, Church Army's Wendy Sanderson and James Karran (a young priest at Ararat Baptist Church) opened Solace, a Sunday night club session with a difference. The venue was Cardiff's Clwb Ifor Bach, and the idea was that this nightclub could become the home of a Fresh Expression of evangelism.
Both Wendy and James had met so many young people in clubs who told them they could never go to church. Knowing that these people needed to hear the Gospel and experience the love of Jesus as much as anyone, the two of them decided to rectify the situation. After much thought, discussion and prayer, James was able to make contact with the manager of Clwb Ifor Bach, and the Solace project was born.
Wendy, an experienced nightclub evangelist, says: "We wanted to create a safe environment where people could meet - somewhere they are familiar with already, where they can have fun and learn about God." In short, a church that was far removed from the 'religious' aspects (the pew, the hymn book, the stained glass) that act as a barrier to so many young people.
Fast forward two years to Easter 2009, and Solace has become a permanent feature of Sunday nights. Most amazingly of all, Solace has now flipped the whole club/church scenario on its head! This Good Friday saw St John's Church in Cardiff open its doors to everyone, filling its sacred space with club music, light effects and a screen showing images of Jesus running from the beginning of the passion story, to the final hour of His death.
Throughout the church were reflection stations, which included the things Jesus went through on that first Good Friday. These were related to 21st century struggles and pain, such as domestic violence, self harm, abuse, bereavement, and so forth. The ground-breaking 'service' continued with the project team going out on the streets, talking to people about their struggles with alcohol, church, family, relationships, and the state of the world - and their lives - in general.
This type of service is being run in St John's on a regular basis now, due to the success of the Good Friday experiment. Solace has also just launched 'Queen Street Table', which provides a team who are equipped to talk - and listen - to passers-by in need of emotional support. The Table will be available every Saturday, in Cardiff's Queen Street.
And, as you read this article, a Solace service is being planned for June … in a Cardiff prison. Much like the indestructible 007, the Solace project is set to run and run.
Read more about Wendy and her work on the Church Army website.
