A Chain Reaction began on Sunday night 20th May when more than 1600 Methodists packed Hall One at the Sage, Gateshead, celebrating the life of Charles Wesley, the birth of Primitive Methodism and the part Methodists had played in the abolition of the slave trade and then moving along that chain to engaging as the church today in relevant mission, service and worship.

Last year, Rev’d Pat Brooks, began to consider a Circuit celebration of 300th Anniversary of Charles Wesley’s birth. Leo Osborn, the District Chair, encouraged Pat’s plans to become a District event and include the 200th Anniversaries of the first Primitive Camp Meeting and the ending of the Slave trade. As is usual in Methodism a small committee was formed! Musical director Ernest Young and writer Alan Bell were co-opted and work began towards a performance under the title ‘Chain Reaction’. Stephen Lindridge, the Newcastle District’s Evangelism enabler explained. “It’s been a bit like ‘Ready Steady Cook’ – here’s a carrot, tin of tuna and some crème fresh, now produce something nutritious that looks and tastes amazing! Well, from the reaction of the audience we did. We’ve already had many messages to say how envisioned, moved, and challenged folk have been.”
The four previous large scale District Celebrations had been held in the homelier surroundings of Newcastle City Hall, but on this occasion it was decided to hire one of the country’s premier concert venues, the Sage Gateshead. Synod secretary, Elizabeth Edwards said; “It was a leap of faith because we knew that the costs involved in moving to a modern state of the art venue like the Sage Gateshead would be high, but I think everyone would agree that our faith – and the ticket price – was justified!”

It wasn’t just the themes which were crafted into a gourmet meal but the mix of music too. On the night the South Tyneside Youth Orchestra under Ernest’s baton, and Icthus praise band led by Roger Whitworth from Fellside Methodist Church, with a 150 voice choir drawn from the District led the variety of singing from ‘And Can It Be’ to ‘Light of the World You Stepped Down into Darkness’. Guest artist Paul Field brought a radical edge as he performed several songs from his musical “Cargo” backed by WAVES, the singing group based at Cullercoats Methodist Church.

The evening was delicately blended together with humour and a bit of history by a team of District actors performing a script specially written by Alan. Christian escapologist, Nick Mitchell, gave a literal example of escaping from chains after the audience had been reminded of the continuing horrors of modern day slavery, before the evening was rounded off by Leo Osborn interviewing three young people involved in different projects of Fresh Expressions of Church. He states, “We didn’t want it to be just an evening of nostalgia; we have to live in the present day so we tried to emphasise the importance of new ways of worship and outreach, and also that the fight against slavery and injustice still goes on.”

Revd. Andrew Letby our Regional Economic Mission Enabler said, “We were starkly reminded that modern day slavery is not something that affects only people far away, the evidence is on our own doorstep. Paul encouraged us all to remember that saying and doing nothing, is an act of complicity with those who think human beings can be seen as an economic commodity to be traded like any other product.” Go to the web sites www.stopthetraffik.org and www.compassionuk.org to learn how you can make a difference in your time.

One person summed up the experience of many at Chain Reaction magnificently, “It’s been a fantastic night of inspiration, encouraging my motivation, and by God’s grace I long to see transformation through it.”