Dr Frances Rabbitts, 27, is the Managing Editor of Prophecy Today UK. Frances attended the Academy for the first time this year. She says:
"I feel as though I spent a week with scores of budding William Wilberforces – what a privilege!"
The Wilberforce Academy was highly recommended to me, although beforehand I had little idea of what I was going to attend. I went with an open mind, expecting helpful teaching, like-minded people and an encouraging few days in which I might take time to realign my priorities with God's purposes. I experienced all of that – and far more!
Broadly, the week comprised a packed schedule of lectures, worship and discussion groups, book-ended by two banquets and punctuated by regular coffee breaks. There were just over 100 delegates, all of whom embodied God's passion for this world as well as a concern for high standards of professional excellence and personal integrity.
Lectures from inspiring teachers, including Rev Dr Joe Boot, Prof Andrew Sandlin, Dr Peter Jones and Dr Jeffrey Ventrella, established a coherent and compelling context for the week, giving us resources with which to understand where Britain is, spiritually, as a nation – how far we have fallen, and where the key battle lines have been drawn today. These were far more than basic theology and history lessons – they put flesh on what national rebellion against God looks like in practice, giving us the tools to comprehend the subtle workings of sin and the enemy in hearts and minds, to understand the battle of ideas and attitudes currently raging all around us and to declare the truth of the Gospel afresh into this chaos, as the only way to life.
Personally, having sat under several years of secular humanist teaching in university, knowing all the while that it was 'not quite right' but never really understanding how or why, suddenly everything fell into place. I am even re-thinking my entire education – including subtle narratives I had swallowed whole without even realising that they stand in direct conflict with the Word of God. Praise the Lord – and thank you to Christian Concern for being the vessel He has used to shine this light into my heart!
Later in the week we turned to issues which have become the fundamental battlegrounds of our time, including abortion, euthanasia, Islam, secular humanism and paganism. These thought-provoking lectures were backed up by testimonies from men and women of God who are actively fighting for Gospel truth in the public realm – from people who are experiencing the full force of the British legal system being weighed against their beliefs, to Wilberforce alumni who have been inspired to set up their own campaign organisations.
The week's schedule was packed full, but somehow there was still plenty of time to get to know both delegates and staff. Tea breaks and discussion groups were always buzzing,as strangers quickly became acquaintances and then firm friends, teasing apart what we had just been taught, bouncing ideas off each other and applying them to our own circumstances. All of this was 'networking' on a much richer level than the secular corporate world could ever offer, for our conversations were all grounded in a sense of comradeship and spiritual brotherhood. Truly, iron sharpens iron – and I know that relationships were forged during the week that God will use magnificently in the future – for His glory.
Every day, times were also set aside for corporate worship, which was – to put it mildly – awesome. God's presence was powerfully with us and I don't think anyone could have failed to feel uplifted and strengthened by Him. The whole experience was a huge confidence boost – we all felt suddenly part of something much bigger than our own lives. It was as if we were picked up and carried forward together by a wave of Divine momentum much greater than the sum of our individual strengths and passions.
That said, it was by no means an easy week. Intellectually and emotionally, the Wilberforce Academy felt a bit (I imagine) like basic training for the armed forces! It was tough, gut-wrenching in places, exhausting and at times overwhelming – but ultimately for good, to train up and motivate a group of dedicated young people willing to live and die for the Lord Jesus Christ – who are now far better equipped to do so. The week was charged with an atmosphere of bravery and passion, acknowledging the gravity of the times in which we live but choosing, in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds, not to shrink back, but to come out fighting.
During the week, I couldn't help but think of William Wilberforce, whose life encapsulated and has inspired so much of the Academy's work. I feel as though I spent a week with scores of budding William Wilberforces – what a privilege! Whether or not they ever make it into the history books, I know their names will be known in heaven for their humble dedication to serve Jesus Christ, openly, passionately and without compromise.
Amongst the crowd of delegates, I know there were training and practising lawyers, politicians, journalists, musicians and entrepreneurs looking to bring their faith courageously, lovingly and wisely into their respective fields. If they got as much from the academy as I did, I know the eventual harvest will be great. But I think we all went away with the conviction that you don't have to be a well-known public figure to make a difference in this nation for Jesus – God can and will use anyone who will give themselves over to His purposes. All we must do is not accept the lie that faith is meant to be a private, individual matter, lived out behind closed doors and not relevant or applicable to the public realm. The truth, of course, is quite the opposite: we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt 5:13-16). Salt is meant to be spread, and light is meant to be seen.
It is difficult to put into words how worthwhile the Wilberforce Academy has been– it should be compulsory for every Bible-believing Christian who wants to make a difference in this world for Jesus! My utmost thanks go to all the Christian Concern staff and lecturers who gave of themselves to make it possible, to the fantastic team at the college who looked after us all so well, and to all those elsewhere who held us up faithfully in prayer. Rest assured that God has already used this week as a turning point, a milestone and a springboard for us all - and I'm convinced He will continue to use it as the delegates head back out into the world. I'm so glad I went!