Time to get moving!

It's hard to be objective about the Training Day that took place yesterday (Sat 17 Sept 2005) at KT in London. I've decided not to try. This, then, is a highly subjective account. And, subjectively speaking, yesterday was awesome.

The Spirit of God was tangibly present throughout the day. It was more like a church service than a political training day! And yet the training was there, and it was good. Anyone who, like me, had the slightest doubt about the Christian Peoples Alliance being a Christian party can lay that doubt aside now. This was not a meeting of Christian Democrats. This was not a meeting of Democrats who happen to be Christians. This was unquestionably a meeting of Christians who happen to be Democrats! KT was overflowing with the Spirit of God yesterday. (No doubt it is today, too!, but I digress...)

I got a lift down to London; an accident on the M1 caused long tailbacks, delaying us for about an hour, but we arrived shortly before 10:30. Whilst we were registering, Andrew Otchie (CPA Parliamentary candidate this year for Northampton North) was up in front, giving his political testimony, and I'm afraid I didn't catch much of it. He was followed by Simeon Ademolake, who stood for Poplar and Canning Town, Simi Lawanson (Southwark North and Bermondsey), and Timothy Webb (Northampton South). You will not be surprised to learn that none of these candidates got more than 500 votes. What might surprise you, though, is just how joyful and positive they were about their campaigns!

Each face shone with the light of Christ, and each heart spoke of faith, determination, and trust in God. Listening to these people, one begins to catch the point of the Christian Peoples Alliance. This is not a political party that hopes to gain power so that its leaders can play God. This is a bunch of Christians who hope to be given the chance to serve their community more effectively, to bring a voice to the voiceless, to shine God's light into the murk of politics.

At about 11am, we took a break, and many of us were able to make some connections with CPA people we hadn't met before, or hadn't seen for some time. I found myself talking to an earnest young man with considerable energy and enthusiasm, by the name of David Campanale. His heart for God and vision for the CPA are both tremendous; it was a real blessing to be able to share a few words with him, and I hope I'll be seeing a lot more of him, and people like him, in the future.

In fact, the break was packed with opportunities to meet new faces - more opportunities than time, alas. It's all a bit blurred, but I remember meeting Fred Winks from Rotherham, who is a most likeable fellow indeed, and I was delighted to renew my acquaintance with Alan Craig's charming wife, Sally, and the Sheffield dynamo, Sid Cordle.

After the break, the KT worship group led us in praise and worship of the living God, and filled the church building with song and prayer. Then Sid gave us a rundown on local government structure, pointing out opportunities for ordinary voters to make a real difference in local affairs even between elections! Fantastic stuff, Sid, and a genuine eye-opener.

David Campanale spoke next, of his experience as a borough councillor and of what can only be called his vision for Christian political activism. David spoke fluently and persuasively, not of triumphs and victories but of serving God and serving the community. I honestly think that, with a dozen Alan Craigs and a dozen David Campanales in the ranks, the CPA could win any election in Britain quite easily.

Alan Craig gave us a few salutary tales to demonstrate that, whilst a single councillor may not have much voting clout, he or she can certainly make a real difference to ordinary people's lives. If you or I complain to our council, they can pretty much ignore us if they like. But they can't ignore a councillor! Alan related a number of examples to illustrate how a councillor is able to facilitate the solving of local residents' problems.

Time for lunch, and we were again networking like rabbits. I spent some time chatting with Fred Winks, Helena and Henrietta Appiah (the twins who were so supportive of Timothy and Andrew in the Northampton election), and one or two others. Alas, I had to cut it a bit short because of a lunchtime meeting I had been asked to attend, but I still managed to get a broader perspective of what the CPA is up to in various parts of the country.

Back to work - and indeed to workshops. There were six workshops on offer, of which we could choose any two. There were two workshops on community involvement, one being focused on education and the other on policing. The other choices were: campaigning locally, becoming a candidate, Christian Democracy, and a policy workshop. Clearly, I can only report on the two I chose, which were the ones on campaigning and becoming a candidate.

The campaigning workshop was excellent. Alan Craig (party leader) and Peter Vickers (campaign manager) talked us through the basics of becoming politically active within our local area. As it happens, I live in an area where the CPA is quite well represented, but Alan and Peter (rightly) didn't assume this. Rather, they talked about the importance of finding somebody else in your area who shares your concern for local issues, and working closely with them to bring those issues to the attention of the local public.

We learned about the importance of local newspapers in helping to increase awareness of areas where local people can make a real difference; Alan and Peter pointed out that, although the local papers don't necessarily attract a huge readership, there is one place where they are read very closely indeed - the town hall! An issue which attracts several letters from readers is likely to be examined quite closely by councillors. We need to remember that an incumbent councillor who works hard for his or her constituents, even if not a CPA councillor, is an asset to their borough, and can be very helpful in bringing important issues to the notice of the council, even though that council may be utterly bereft of CPA members or even of Christians. So, simply "making a fuss" about an important issue may be enough to ensure that something is done about it! As Alan and Peter told us, "Local democracy is about debate, because debate creates political pressure in the community."

We also discovered the value of press releases! These can be even more effective than letters, as they have the potential to become news items, which occupy a more prominent position in the newspaper than letters.

Alan and Peter had brought along a number of copies of the Newham Recorder, and we spent ten or twelve minutes in pairs, scanning through them looking for items that might be worth writing in about - and of course each pair chose a completely different story to focus on, which just goes to show how much scope there is. (Because there were an odd number of us, Alan Craig chipped in as my team-mate, and I couldn't help feeling a bit like a remedial pupil! The amount of mileage he could extract from a single article was quite astonishing. He really is a most talented chap.)

At the campaigning workshop, I met Mary Jane, a young woman who had come to London not because she had any great interest in the Christian Peoples Alliance (as far as I could tell), but because she lives near a detention centre for asylum seekers, where conditions are apparently quite appalling. God has laid it on her heart to do what she can to put things right, and she had come to London looking for tips. I was glad to be able to introduce her to Sid Cordle (with whom we prayed about the matter), and - later on - Timothy Webb, with the intent of helping her to accomplish her goal if we can.

After a break (and more networking!), I joined the "becoming a candidate" workshop, not because I particularly wish to become one, but because I felt it important to gain an insight into the process of candidate selection, and to get an idea of what's involved, so that I can pass this information on to people who do wish to head in that direction.

Peter Flower led the workshop, and talked us gently through the process, winding up with a practical exercise in which we were asked to identify what kind of character, knowledge, and heart a Christian Peoples Alliance candidate ought to have. Not surprisingly, qualities such as compassion, love, and awareness of local problems were all high on everyone's lists.

After the workshops, we all trooped back into the hall for prayer, and for a round-up and question time. My own question was: "What next?" The answer was five-fold:

• Join the CPA (if you haven't already done so)
• Gather friends around you, form a group, and start praying
• Come to the CPA Annual General Meeting (15th October)
• Get down to Newham if you possibly can, to help in the campaign there and to get some valuable experience
• Get along to one of the monthly surgeries, either in London or by arrangement with your local area co-ordinator

Colin Dye's round-up was inspirational; he left us in no doubt that KT is behind the CPA all the way, and that it will do what it can to garner support from other churches around London. (In case you are not aware of this, KT's congregation is numbered in the thousands!)

As a training day, it was a good day. Lots of information, lots of help, lots of experience to guide us.

As a statement of determination of the Christian Peoples Alliance to be a tool of God in the political life of this nation, it was an electric day. The Spirit of God was right there, the whole day through. It's impossible to describe - you just had to be there. If you weren't, make sure you don't miss the next one!